“Depleted Uranium use IS a (Nuclear), War Crime!” Pt. 3 #oligarchy #infrastructure #intelligenceshortfall #depleteduranium #environmentalmonitoring #NuclearJanus #nuclearpowermeansnuclearweapons #NATO #Putin #Ukraine #Russia #cheapwarsforcheapwhores #Oppenheimer #ClimateChange #UN

Many don't seem to understand what nuclear radiation is, this failure is rooted in denial of the one true constant in out lives, death. Why do I say this? Because nuclear radiation is evidence of decay. 

Quote; "As the nucleus emits radiation or disintegrates, the radioactive atom (radionuclide) transforms to a different nuclide. This process is called radioactive decay. It will continue until the forces in the nucleus are balanced. For example, as a radionuclide decays, it will become a different isotope of the same element if it gives off neutrons or a different element altogether if it gives off protons.

The series of transformations that a radionuclide goes through to reach stability and the type of radiation produced is characteristic of the radionuclide. The stages form a decay series.

What is the difference between radioactivity and radiation?

Radiation is the energy or particles that are released during radioactive decay. The radioactivity of a material refers to the rate at which it emits radiation.

The activity of a sample of radioactive material is determined by measuring the number of disintegrations per unit of time. A disintegration occurs each time a nucleus ejects particles or energy. Activity is measured in a unit called the becquerel - 1 becquerel is equivalent to 1 disintegration per second.": https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/what-is-radiation/ionising-radiation/radioactivity

Quote; "No matter where you live, some natural radiation is to be expected. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that radiation exposure from natural sources like radon and thoron averages 2.4 millisieverts (mSv) per year, although it can fluctuate by a few hundred percent. For comparison's sake, a single chest X-ray puts out a radiation dose of 0.2 mSv. A "radiation worker" (such as one at a nuclear power plant) should be limited to 100 msVs over five years*, according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection.": https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/hot-not-what-makes-some-places-naturally-high-radioactivity.htm

It's called "decay" for a reason, after all one can cope with having to clean a latrine one does not, however, go skinny-dipping in a sewer (U.K govt. take note). 

Denial merely increases the power of that which we fear..

 

Certainly true at the moment as Death slips silently up from behind (again), it is, therefore, time to furnish ourselves with the correct data and arm ourselves against the foe.

Quote; "In nature, U-235 only makes up a very small part of the uranium ore. Given its importance for nuclear power and nuclear weapons technology, U-235 is often removed from the natural uranium ore and concentrated through a process called uranium enrichment. DU is the material left behind after enrichment. Like the natural uranium ore, DU is radioactive. DU mainly emits alpha particle radiation. Alpha particles don't have enough energy to go through skin. As a result, exposure to the outside of the body is not considered a serious hazard. However, if DU is ingested or inhaled, it is a serious health hazard. Alpha particles directly affect living cells and can cause kidney damage.": https://www.epa.gov/radtown/depleted-uranium

Quote; "All isotopes of uranium are radioactive. Both uranium and depleted uranium, and their immediate decay products, emit alpha and beta particles and a small amount of gamma radiation.

Depletion of U-235 during processing leaves DU appreciably less radioactive than naturally occurring isotopic mixtures. It typically contains 30-40 per cent of the concentration of U-235 found in natural uranium, or about 0.2 to 0.3 per cent by weight. This means that the radioactivity of newly produced DU is only about 60 per cent of natural uranium.

DU munitions collected in Kosovo also contained trace amounts of other radioactive elements, but they increase the overall radioactivity by less than one per cent.

All natural uranium isotopes emit alpha particles – positively charged ions identical to the nucleus of a helium atom, with two protons and two neutrons. Their beta and gamma activity is low. Alpha particles are relatively large, and do not penetrate far in tissue – they are stopped by the skin, for example. This means uranium only poses a radiation hazard if it is breathed in, eaten or drunk, or enters part of the body exposed by injury*.": https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/depleted-uranium/en/l-2/4.htm

*Italics mine, I love this masterly downplaying of the hazards of d.u "only".

I found one dosimeter specifically for mushrooms and other forage (retails at £255), however, it only measures gamma radiation and estimates beta, detectors specifically for alpha particles seem much more difficult and costly to acquire

Because depleted uranium is a slightly "different animal" to standard man made isotopes the thing we really need to know re: dosimeters is the sensitivity necessary (esp. re: alpha and beta emissions), for adequate testing of forage. This applies especially to mushrooms as they have the marked tendency to bio-accumulate toxins from their environment.

Quote; "The ionising power of beta-emitting radionuclides is intermediate between the more ionising alpha particles, and gamma radiation, although they are similarly harmful on penetration into human tissue. When entering the body, they may be harmful to humans."

"Macrofungi have been documented to be good bioindicators of environmental contamination of some anthropogenic agents, including radioactivity."

"The available literature has indicated the artificial beta-emitter, ⁹⁰Sr, has been accumulated at the highest levels (13 kBq/kg dry weight) in macrofungi from Ukraine, while among natural beta-emitters, the highest level of ²¹⁰Pb (0.202 kBq/kg dw) was reported in Spain. Wild macrofungi foraged for consumption from areas of high natural radiation background or anthropogenic pollution pose a health risk through potential exposure to radiotoxic decay particles produced by beta emitters. This pathway's total effective radiation dose could range from 0.163 to 518 μSv/kg dw and depends on geographical location and actual consumer behaviour. Following pollution episodes, such consumption may expose consumers to radiotoxic beta particles in addition to other emitted nuclides."

"Mushrooms are the spore-bearing fruiting bodies of macrofungi. They are a unique group of organisms because they are an important, if not the most important, vector for the long-term transmission of artificial radioactivity in the food chain of humans for years after global pollution events (Johnson & Nayfield, 1970; Horyna, 1991; Falandysz, Zalewska, et al.,2019, Falandysz, Saba, et al., 2021, Falandysz, Zalewska, et al., 2021)"

"From the point of view of radio-toxicologist, the nuclides of the most significant concern for food consumption are alpha-radioactive isotopes*(Strumińska-Parulska & Falandysz, 2020). In comparison, beta particles are seen as having medium penetrating power and medium ionising power – beta is less ionising radiation than alpha particles but more ionising than gamma rays."

"In comparison to alpha particles, β⁻ particles travel at a much higher velocity of equivalent energy. Like the alpha particle, the beta particle interacts with matter via ionisation and electron orbital excitation as it dissipates its kinetic energy. Beta particles are moderately penetrating in living tissue, causing mutation and death in cells and can cause spontaneous mutation in DNA. Thus, the ingestion of food contaminated with a beta emitter would be a source of health concern because of its potential effect on internal organs (IAEA, 1963; L'Annunziata, 2016). Sufficient external intensity of beta-radiation can generate burns, rather like extreme sunburn. If beta emitters are ingested or inhaled, they can also damage internal cells and organs in a number of ways. This radiation can cause the early death of cells, prevent or delay cell division, alter cell properties and pass these changes onto daughter cells.": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224421003897?utm_source=pocket_saves

*Italics mine. Well there you have it, don't mess with the alpha! 

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Quote; "The US and its European allies are importing vast amounts of nuclear fuel and compounds from Russia, providing Moscow with hundreds of millions of dollars in badly needed revenue as it wages war on Ukraine.

The sales, which are legal and unsanctioned, have raised alarms from non-proliferation experts and elected officials who say the imports are helping to bankroll the development of Moscow’s nuclear arsenal and are complicating efforts to curtail Russia’s war-making abilities.

The dependence on Russian nuclear products – used mostly to fuel civilian reactors – also leaves the US and its allies open to energy shortages if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to cut off supplies. The challenge is likely to grow more intense as those nations seek to boost production of emissions-free electricity to combat climate change.

“We have to give money to the people who make weapons? That’s absurd,” said Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Washington-based Non-proliferation Policy Education Centre.*"

"Rosatom, which says it is building 33 new reactors in 10 countries, and its subsidiaries, exported about $US2.2 billion worth of nuclear energy related goods and materials last year, according to trade data analysed by the Royal United Service Institute, a London-based think tank. The institute said that figure was likely much larger because it was difficult to track such exports.

Rosatom chief executive Alexei Likhachyov told Russian newspaper Izvestia that the company’s foreign business should total $US200 billion over the next decade. That lucrative civilian business provides critical funds for Rosatom’s other major responsibility: designing and producing Russia’s atomic arsenal, experts say.

Zelensky’s plea

Ukrainian officials have pleaded with world leaders to sanction Rosatom to cut off one of Moscow’s last significant funding streams and to punish Putin for launching the invasion. Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky again pressed Western leaders to target Rosatom after Russian forces captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.**

“Ukraine does not understand why sanctions have not yet been introduced against Rosatom and its leadership,” Zelensky said in May.

Nuclear energy advocates say the US and some European countries would face difficulty in cutting off imports of Russian nuclear products. The US nuclear energy industry, which largely outsources its fuel, produces about 20 per cent of US electricity.": https://www.afr.com/world/europe/putin-profits-from-global-addiction-to-russia-s-nuclear-fuel-20230810-p5dvlx

*Italics mine. A nonsensical objection and a good example of neoliberal double-think for, as we have examined in the previous posts on this subject, nuclear power was and still is, primarily, a nuclear weapon enabling activity and will remain so until such is finally eschewed, it is the nature of the beast.

**Italics mine. Zelensky is once again "outed" for this is surely evidential of how the Ukraine is being exploited by globalised interests.

Janus

It seems very clear that Putin was posing a very specific question to the NATO member state's electorate when he attacked the Khmelnytskyi ammo-dump, that being; "Do you know that your governments are not only sanctioning the use of depleted uranium munitions but also supplying them to the Ukrainians?" He was able to indulge in such propaganda so effectively not only because the munitions were easily targeted but also because, it seems obvious, the Russians knew they were there! Porous security being an inevitable aspect of this proxy war. Depleted uranium (and other "high-tech" -and very expensive-, munitions), should have been stored securely in hardened bunkers not left out in the open. This reveals several things:

a). Communication between the Ukranian and Western military intelligence services is far from secure.

b). That the necessary infrastructure to conduct the conflict to both its current level and above does not really exist in the Ukraine.

c).  That both shortcomings are a function of NATO's Janusian position in that it must be seen to be doing one thing whilst actually planning another.

It's not unlike Putin to show his own hand a touch by posing the question; "Are not your pots the same colour as our kettles?" By so doing he obviously seeks to add veracity to his claim that Russia is the injured party and that he feels that it may do is, perhaps, enough of an indication that he may, indeed, have a point. 

The Sword Cuts Both Ways (either way people die)

Surely such two-facedness exemplifies the nature of globalised, untrammelled capital. The truth would seem to be that a faux pluralised, neoliberal (and I would include China*), oligarchy is attempting to secure a future for itself regardless of the consequences for future generations.

*Quote; "With an installed capacity of 56 GWe, China has the world’s third largest fleet of civil nuclear reactors after the U.S. and France and its ambitious expansion programme will give it the largest fleet by 2030. The government’s policy objectives driving this programme are fourfold: enhancing security of energy supply, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, promoting advanced industrial and technological development, and boosting technology exports. In 2021, nuclear power provided roughly 4.8 per cent of China’s electricity supply, 2.3 per cent of primary commercial energy supply and 25 per cent of non-hydro, low-carbon electricity. The country has made great progress in catching up with the most advanced developments in other countries, notably with Generation III and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. However, it still struggles to deliver more sophisticated technologies such as fast reactors, advanced fuel development and reprocessing. Despite claims that up to 30 nuclear reactors would be built across the world by 2030 as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, the only new overseas plants to have been built recently are in Pakistan. Meanwhile, construction of new reactors within China continues apace and installed capacity could exceed 300 GWe by 2050. At the same time, new technologies are being developed that could allow Chinese companies to become the world’s dominant vendors of nuclear reactors in the future.": https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/nuclear-power-in-china-its-role-in-national-energy-policy/

In a recent publication (16 August 2023), three leading researchers in the fields of environmental science and economics (are they really different things, quote; "we can see how closely related the notions of ecology and economics really are, this seems to indicate that the Industrial Revolution (esp.), saw a perversion of the language describing transaction/exchange in order to underpin a Socially Darwinistic model of human evolution, allow this exploitative model to gain ascendancy and fulfil (esp.), capitalism’s imperial and “manifest destiny”. It may, therefore, be the case that a misapprehension of the nature of economic theory has stemmed directly from the exploitation of non-renewable resources.": https://www.arafel.co.uk/2021/06/a-dangerous-conflation-socialism.html ?), concluded, quote; "In a decarbonizing world, delays in nuclear constructions translate to increased emissions. If governments and economic actors believe that nuclear power will come online at a certain date, they will not make alternative plans, and without alternative plans, the current carbon-intensive electricity system will remain in place—rendering climate targets unachievable*.": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542435123002817#bib14

*Italics mine. The article tends to soft-pedal on both nuclear power's CO2 profile and it's raison d'etre (that of producing nuclear weapons), yet still concludes that it does not represent a solution for man-made climate change issues.

I call on campaigners like Greta Thunberg to properly acquaint themselves as to the facts regarding nuclear power and not to be swayed by the nuclear cabal's "greenwash"! If one allows oneself to be seduced there will, inevitably, be consequences.

Quote; "Despite the shocking risks that Russian forces have created by their occupation and shelling of nuclear power reactors in Ukraine, the push to keep selling nuclear reactors, even in war zones, continues.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in January moved its Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been. It cited Russia’s threat of nuclear weapons use in Ukraine, its occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant “violating international protocols and risking widespread release of radioactive materials,” and the undermining of efforts to deal with climate change. But the global resurgence of interest in new nuclear, most notably among several of Ukraine’s neighbors, but also among countries in Asia and Africa, sets us all up for even more trouble.

Russia’s invasion and occupation of the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Mar. 4, 2022 was not the first time an operating nuclear plant had come under military attack; nor is it something unforeseen. Since 1980 the Middle East has seen some 13 attacks on reactors (in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel), according to a July presentation by Henry Sokolski to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Luckily, these attacks by aerial bombing or missile strikes either failed or avoided massive radiation releases because the reactors were mainly small research reactors that weren't operating. Only one, Iraq’s Tuwaitha research reactor, was actually operating when the US struck it in 1991. And, unlike Ukraine’s situation, none of the reactors attacked in the Middle East were large-scale commercial power plants or situated in heavily populated areas as is Zaporizhzhia. In all of these attacks, the aim of the perpetrator, whether the US, Israel, Iran or Iraq, was to destroy a facility seen as integral to a clandestine nuclear weapons program.

Russia’s ground invasion and occupation of Zaporizhzhia, in contrast, demonstrates why commercial plants might become targets in future wars. Russia has used the plant to shield Russian troops and military personnel and equipment, gain control over Ukraine’s energy system, and provide a lever against European intervention through the threat of radiation contamination, according to a paper by the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies.

Wider Threats

The idea of using nuclear plants as pawns in war is hardly unique to Russia, however. In Asia, North Korea has over the past decade suggested that nuclear power plants in both South Korea and Japan could be fair game for strikes; similar suggestions or alleged threats have been reported out of both Taiwan and China against each other. A US war manual actually permits attacks on nuclear plants if they serve military objectives*, including their use to deny power to enemy forces or to pre-empt enemy forces from hampering the movement or advance of US or allied forces. And it rejects any military-civilian distinction, stating that “under customary international law, no legal presumption of civilian status exists for persons or objects.”

But attacking nuclear plants, and ignoring the distinction between civil and military targets, or people, totally ignores the 1949 Geneva Convention and protocols to that convention added in 1977. These protocols, signed and ratified by 174 countries, tightened rules regarding military conflicts and discouraged military actions against nuclear power plants. The fundamental idea was to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants — including both people and facilities — and to prevent any attacks that would cause widespread harm to civilians. The US, alongside Iran and Pakistan, signed but did not ratify the protocols, and a further 20 countries, including India and Israel did neither. In 2019, Russia withdrew from the convention’s Protocol I relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts.

It’s important to understand that while some features of existing plants might mitigate a combat type attack, nuclear power plants are not designed to withstand a deliberate state-sponsored military attack. Nuclear safety and security rules are crafted to address conceivable accidents or terrorist threats but don’t address how to prevent or respond to full-on military attacks.": https://www.energyintel.com/00000189-bbea-dbd9-a9df-fffe811a0000

*Italics mine. "Quelle suprise!" 

Update (07/09/2023)

US to send depleted-uranium munitions to Ukraine

Quote; "The Biden administration will for the first time send controversial armor-piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to Ukraine, according to a document seen by Reuters and separately confirmed by two U.S. officials.

The rounds, which could help destroy Russian tanks, are part of a new military aid package for Ukraine set to be unveiled in the next week. The munitions can be fired from U.S. Abrams tanks that, according to a person familiar with the matter, are expected be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

One of the officials said that the coming aid package will be worth between $240 million and $375 million depending on what is included.

The value and contents of the package were still being finalized, the officials said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Although Britain sent depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine earlier this year, this would be the first U.S. shipment of the ammunition and will likely stir controversy. It follows an earlier decision by the Biden administration to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite concerns over the dangers such weapons pose to civilians.

The use of depleted uranium munitions has been fiercely debated, with opponents like the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects.

A by-product of uranium enrichment, depleted uranium is used for ammunition because its extreme density gives rounds the ability to easily penetrate armor plating and self-ignite in a searing cloud of dust and metal."..."The United States used depleted uranium munitions in massive quantities in the 1990 and 2003 Gulf Wars and the NATO bombing of former Yugoslavia in 1999."": https://www.reuters.com/world/us-send-its-first-depleted-uranium-rounds-ukraine-sources-2023-09-01/

Read the rest of the article if you wish, however, at the moment all the major MSM, both press and broadcast, are downplaying the effects of particulate depleted uranium so don't expect to find any critical work. Check this from Al Jazeera, of all people, quote; "The health effects of depleted uranium have been a subject of debate. While some scientists link depleted-uranium ammunitions to many ailments, including cancer, other studies dismiss such risks.

The issue surfaced in the past decade after some researchers blamed depleted uranium for upticks in birth defects near US military bases and battlefields in Iraq.

The US military, which says it has used depleted uranium since 1991 when it was involved in the first Gulf War, has described the ammunition as only “slightly” radioactive. It says depleted uranium only poses long-term health hazards if inhaled or ingested in large amounts.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, says the main health risk of depleted uranium is its chemical toxicity, not radioactivity.

“High concentrations in the kidney can cause damage and, in extreme cases, renal failure,” the agency says. “The general medical and scientific consensus is that in cases of high intake, uranium is likely to become a chemical toxicology problem before it is a radiological problem.”": https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/7/what-are-depleted-uranium-munitions-and-why-is-us-sending-them-to-ukraine

Straight from the neoliberal handbook and despite the concerns of the international community, quote; "Qu:  So, does the Secretary-General have anything to say about the US decision to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine?

Deputy Spokesman:  Just to reiterate our concerns about the use of depleted uranium as munitions anywhere in the world.

Qu:  So, the UN is against use of depleted uranium?

Deputy Spokesman:  The concerns expressed including by our Office for Disarmament Affairs apply to Ukraine, as they do to any other country*.": https://press.un.org/en/2023/db230908.doc.htm

*Italics mine.

Quote; "British courts have found in favour of at least two Gulf War veterans who suffered ill health from contact with DU.

A tribunal in Edinburgh upheld a war pension appeal by Kenny Duncan. His three children were born with deformities after he had helped salvage tanks destroyed by DU shells.

And an inquest in the Midlands found it was “more likely than not” that exposure to DU caused cancers which killed Stuart Dyson, an ex-soldier who cleaned British tanks in Iraq.

Toxic aerosol

UK military safety studies from 1986-88, found by Declassified, show that an accident in which DU rounds caught fire was regarded as “the most serious hazard”.

A DU round could combust “if it is in a fire whose temperature exceeds 500 degrees celsius”, forming a “toxic aerosol”.

Another document states that “ignition arising from petrol or propellant will produce an aerosol smoke containing radioactive particles. There is danger from breathing this smoke.”": https://declassifieduk.org/contamination-fears-after-ukraine-loses-british-tank/

“Depleted Uranium use IS a (Nuclear), War Crime!” Pt. 2 #medicalresponses #bioremediation #depleteduranium #monitoring #nuclearpowermeansnuclearweapons #NATO #Putin #Ukraine #cheapwarsforcheapwhores #ClimateChange

On the 19th May Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev made a statement warning that a cloud of particulate deplete uranium (dust), had been created by the destruction, by the Russians, of an ammunition dump situated just outside the city of Khemlnytskyi in the Ukraine. It is claimed that following the incident the ec.europa radiation monitoring map (usually on live stream), went offline and refused to load for several days:

Meanwhile other organisations and institutions monitoring radiation levels in Europe were all registering similar unusual readings (also see Pt.1):

 

Named after Marie Curie this university in Poland registered a spike in the level of Bismuth pollution

Quote; "Bismuth, the increase in concentration of which was recorded in Lublin, Poland, is a half-life product of depleted uranium. For a long time it was considered non-radioactive, but only recently – in 2003 – scientists detected its alpha decay, albeit extremely slowly. Its half-life is (1.9 ± 0.2)⋅1019 years. This is more than the age of the universe by 9 orders of magnitude. That’s a billion times. In other words, bismuth-contaminated land will never clean itself.* You will need to at least remove the top layer of soil.": http://energyland.info/

*Underline mine.

It is also claimed that the Ukrainian Ministry of Security and Health has leafleted the Ukrainian population warning of the dangers of radioactive contamination:

Quote: "..the most important and ominous warning came from Russia’s Nicolai Patrushev, one of Putin’s top lieutenants, ex-head of FSB:

“The destruction of Ukrainian shells with depleted uranium led to the fact that the radioactive cloud headed towards Western Europe,” Patrushev said RIA Novosti. He added that an increase in the level of radiation is already being recorded in Poland. The United States is also working on the creation of biological and chemical weapons and using them on Ukrainian territory.

This means that the radioactive cloud has state level confirmation from one of the top figures in Russia. So while Ukraine still claims the entire incident as fake news, Russian leadership disagrees.

In the end it’s difficult to know with absolute certainty, but it’s definitely plausible given the fact that we do know the UK was shipping DU rounds as per their own confirmation. And an allotment of rounds would have to be enough for the ~32 Challengers they claimed to have provided, which likely should be in the thousands at the least." Go to: https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/paid-subscriber-weekly-mailbag-answers-212

Quote; "Russia’s aerial attack on the Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi is catching quite a bit of attention because of reports of a spike in Gamma rays following multiple, massive explosions. Educated speculation believes that the increase in Gamma radiation may be a consequence of Russian bombs blasting British supplied depleted uranium rounds into dust."..

"It is not clear whether or not depleted uranium shells were vaporized. What is certain is that Ukraine lost an enormous quantity of munitions of various types that cannot be easily or quickly replaced. It also is noteworthy that Russia has been carrying out these kinds of strikes, not all with the same level of success, at multiple sites throughout Ukraine for the last eight days." Go to: https://www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-city-of-khmelnytskyi-did-russia-vaporize-depleted-uranium-shells/5819529 for three videos of the explosions that took place at the site (approx. at 1 hour intervals), here is footage of the last huge explosion:

Sputnik international reported Patrushev's statement and also published a piece by Chris Busby (physical chemist and scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk), concerning, quote; "how the West’s decision to provide depleted uranium (DU) ammunition to Ukraine has potentially caused a continent-wide ecological disaster"

Nb. The Sputnik website has been timing out and thus refusing to load today but I did previously manage to view its content when I am able to again I will post a link to the article here .

Chris Busby has written extensively concerning the dangers of both nuclear power and nuclear weapons. he is profiled (by article), in the "Ecologist" (recommended), go to: https://theecologist.org/profile/chris-busby

Medical Responses (incl. "Bio-remediation")

I published blog posts concerning both possible medical and bio-remediation ("bio-medical"?), responses to the Fukushima disaster at the time, much of the content of which is relevant to both the d.u contamination issue and any possible catastrophe involving Ukraine's nuclear industry (esp. re: the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station which is the largest in Europe and the 10th largest in the World), quote; "Use Kelp (iodine source and endocrine supporter), and crystal sea-salt in your cooking The book that started it all

Researchers found higher incidence in recovery from radiation exposure in the population of Nagasaki after the bomb, this was attributed to the relatively high level of salt intake and seaweeds in the coastal diet.

Also include foods containing trace elements and minerals (fresh or dried mushrooms are a good source, some like Ganoderma probably have a place in the “radiologists” pharmacy -a “radiologist” in this case being a physician who generally doesn’t, rather than one who generally does-), and ensure your vitamin intake is at least at the level of the R.D.A, “active” cultures and mineral supplements should also be considered.

Mushroom Immune Defence products may be beneficial, also jiaogulan, quote; "Leticia’s Amazing Story

About nine years ago, at the age of 58, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She underwent radiation therapy and received localized cobalt treatment inserted into her cervix. This made her extremely weak and sick. After two weeks of the treatments, Leticia decided she would rather die than undergo that horrible torture. Doctors gave her six months to live.

Resolving to do her best to fight the cancer, Leticia made whatever lifestyle improvements she could, becoming a vegetarian as well as endeavoring to purify her existence through meditation. After a year, the cancer had not advanced; however, she continued to feel sick and was always weak. Then a friend recommended a Chinese doctor, who told her about a Chinese herb, jiaogulan, which was known for helping cancer patients. He sent her a jiaogulan plant with his wife, who was visiting Thailand. Leticia grew the herb and made a tea from the dried leaves. The tea gave her energy and allowed her to sleep well. Gradually and steadily she regained her health. She is now sixty-five years old, healthy, happy, beautiful, and enjoying her grandchildren. She feels that without jiaogulan she would certainly be dead.

As a result of her experience with jiaogulan tea, she has expanded her pesticide-free, herb-growing capabilities to create a company that serves customers around the world with a pleasant tasting medicinal herb tea." Also see https://ivu.org/congress/thai99/texts/leticia.html: 

Teas and foods containing high levels of anti-oxidants are useful and bowel health is also essential, high-fibre foods should be considered.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a great de-toxifier, there are others, however, Aloe Vera re-hydrates driving out toxins and replacing them with trace-elements, minerals and vitamins (including -inactive-, B12).

Fresh aloe vera leaf can be purchased on Ebay & tutorials on proper hand-filleting are available on YouTube.

Quote; "With the recent earthquake in Japan, resulting in the instability of several nuclear reactors, many people have been asking what they can do to protect themselves from radiation exposure or poisoning, or what they can do to naturally detoxify their system if they are exposed. The following is a compilation of the research I have been able to find on ways to naturally and safely prevent and/or detoxify your body from radiation exposure/poisoning. I will start out by listing the various protocols that have been shown to be effective, then I will expand on the details.

1. Diet consisting mainly of brown rice, miso and seaweed

2.  Other additions to the diet

· Spirulina, chlorella and the algaes (kelp, etc.)

· Brassica vegetables and high beta carotene vegetables

· Beans and lentils and other foods high in nucleotide content

· Potassium, magnesium, calcium and mineral rich foods

· cod liver oil and olive oil

· Avoid sugars and sweets and wheat

3. Clay, Sea salt and Baking Soda Bath
4. Homeopathic remedies

5. Schuessler’s Bioplasma

Diet of Brown Rice, Seaweed and Miso

At the time of the atomic bombing, Tatsuichiro Akizuki, M.D. was Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Francis’s Hospital in Nagasaki and he fed his staff and patients a strict diet of brown rice, miso and tamari soy soup, wakame, kombu and other seaweed, Hokkaido pumpkin, and sea salt. He also prohibited the consumption of sugar and sweets since they suppress the immune system. By imposing this diet on his staff and patients no one succumbed to radiation poisoning whereas the occupants of hospitals located much further away from the blast incident suffered severe radiation fatalities. Much of this positive result has to do with the fact that the sea vegetables contain substances that bind radioactive particles and escort them out of the body.(Tatsuichiro Akuziki, M.D. Nagasaki 1945, London Quarter books, 1981).

Seaweeds are very high in mineral content. Consuming natural iodine, such as in the seaweeds, helps prevent the uptake of iodine-131, while iron inhibits the absorption of plutonium-238 and plutonium-239. Vitamin B-12 inhibits cobalt-60 uptake. Zinc inhibits zinc-65 uptake and sulfur is preventative for sulfur-35* (a product of nuclear reactors) incorporation by the body.
Sea vegetables can prevent assimilation of different radionuclitides, heavy metals such as cadmium, and other environmental toxins.

“An experiment conducted by J.F. Stara at the Environmental Protection Agency showed that sodium alginate significantly reduced the amount of radio active strontium in the bones of cats. Stara observed that radio active strontium in the bones is resecreted into the intestines where it is bound by alginate, neutralized then excreted in the stools.”

 "There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and environmental pollutants than sea vegetables … sea vegetables can prevent assimilation of different radionuclitides, heavy metals such as cadmium, and other environmental toxins.*” 

I will move on to point number two – Other additions to the diet – in my next post.” From Radiation Detoxification Steven Schecter, N.D Go to:
http://www.herbsofgrace.com/Blog/2011/03/16/radiation-detoxification/  

*Italics mine.

Zeolites

Quote; "There are hundreds of types of zeolite, but we are only talking about clinoptilolite-zeolite here, which is the only type of zeolite that is used in supplements. Zeolite is a volcanic mineral and has an array of elements in it because it comes from the core of the Earth. The cage of the zeolite structure is so strong that there is no condition harsh enough in the body to break it down. This means that nothing is leached from the zeolite structure. Since zeolite stays intact, it can then do its job by absorbing positively charged toxins, such as heavy metals and radiation (including lead and aluminum).  

Does zeolite absorb or leach heavy metals?

Zeolite absorbs heavy metals. Misinformation about zeolite leaching lead, aluminum, arsenic, and other metals originated many years ago when people learned that the chemical name for clinoptilolite-zeolite is “aluminosilicate.” They automatically assumed “aluminosilicate” meant there was aluminum in zeolite, which could potentially do harm. Over the years, more misinformation about zeolite leaching other metals, such as lead and arsenic, has come about. But none of this is true! Though zeolite is a volcanic mineral and has a variety of elements in it, the structure of the zeolite mineral CANNOT BE BROKEN DOWN IN THE BODY. Thus, nothing in the structure of the zeolite is bioavailable—in other words no aluminum, lead, arsenic, or any other metals are leached from the zeolite structure as it travels through the body. In fact, clinoptilolite-zeolite does the opposite and absorbs dangerous heavy metals from the body’s cells.

To prove that zeolite stays intact and does not leach any elements from its structure, we had our zeolite 3rd party tested by an accredited laboratory. The test, known as a gastric leach test, exposed a dose of our zeolite to a hydrochloric solution to mimic stomach acid—the harshest environment within the body. Please click here to view this lab test. The symbol < means that metal is below detectable limits or is completely absent. For example Tungsten says the results were <0.025mg, meaning Tungsten was below this amount or not detectable at all. These results clearly demonstrate that our clinoptilolite-zeolite does not leach any metals when circulating in the human body.

Though the lead and arsenic levels were below detectable limits, ZEO Health pursued having a 3rd party study performed by the University of Missouri using our zeolite powder to end further controversies over these specific heavy metals. We strategically chose the University of Missouri to undertake this study because they are experts in testing for heavy metals and bioavailability. Moreover, not only are they world-renown for their studies, but they are also used by federal agencies and all state governments for testing and to help establish public standards. In this zeolite study, swine were fed our zeolite powder and were regularly tested for their lead and arsenic levels. Lead levels were found to have significantly decreased below detectable limits. This finding proved that not only is zeolite not leaching lead, but it also heavily implied that zeolite was detoxing this dangerous heavy metal. While there was excretion of arsenic throughout the study, it was established that zeolite was not leaching arsenic and this arsenic originated from the swine’s feed. Please click here to read the abstract of this study.

Since this study was specifically designed to evaluate the leaching of lead and arsenic from zeolite, no solid conclusions were drawn by the researchers on the functioning of zeolite as a detoxifier. However, the researchers stated that the decrease of lead and the excretion of arsenic implied that the zeolite was functioning exactly as it should— detoxing, and NOT leaching, these heavy metals.": https://www.zeohealth.com/aboutzeolite/zeolitesafety.html?utm_source=pocket_saves

Also, having been using their "devices" for a while I am now very happy to recommend the products of Implosion Research, go to: https://www.implosionresearch.com/ currently I would consider purchasing both a "domestic" implosion device and a personal one (when one is being invasively impacted in a number of ways personal protection is essential):

 

 

There are different designs in different metals, pls. see link

Quote: "Welcome to the homepage of the Centre for Implosion Research. Since 1997 we have been involved in subtle energy and water research, following largely the ideas of Viktor Schauberger. This has resulted in the development of a unique range of products, which are manufactured by us in-house and despatched all over the world." Go to: https://www.implosionresearch.com/

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the subtle art of removing toxins from the environment naturally such as by the action of plants and/or fungi. 

Dr. Schecter (see post above), is very clear as to the efficacy of utilising seaweeds in order to treat the effects of radiation exposure to the person, however, seaweeds (and algae), are also excellent "bio-medicine" as some have the ability to "bio-accumulate" (capture and store), toxins (nobody seems to know how many do or what the substances those that do bioaccumulate accumulate may be), as do a considerable number of fungi (ditto re: the research into same), unfortunately such biomedicine has, historically, been dreadfully under researched and underfunded, quote; "Elsewhere on this blog you will find mention of mushrooms and fungi for bio-remediation,"Mycology and Bio-Remediation" Go to: https://gkhales.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/mycology-and-bio-remediation.html and some of the organisations and communities doing research into the mycological bio-accumulation of environmental toxins and their subsequent disposal or recovery, however, what has not so far been so fashionable is the concomitant science of the monitoring of environmental toxins ("Enviro-Toxins" Dr.Vyvyan Howard). There is surely a lot of wasted funding going to many bio-chemistry depts. in science faculties throughout the world for it is not rocket science and I would have thought that the identification and categorisation of all the moulds, fungi and mushrooms by environment and proclivity (re: toxin accumulation), would have been a perfect excuse for a good old financial (and otherwise), knees-up (but they're probably channelling all the funding into seeing how mycology can inform robotics), after all "cleaning-up" don't pay (especially when one doesn't admit to one's problems in the first place)! Mushrooms offer more elegant solutions surely? Why bother with expensive equipment when you can whip a few specimens into the lab and know immediately how much is where following some simple analysis (and being informed as to what you're looking for before you see it!)?" Go to: https://www.arafel.co.uk/2016/12/the-undiscovered-science-of-myco-magic.html

Fukushima

It seems possible to me that Fukushima will become a Japanese "bearded lady", in that it will prove necessary to bioremediate the coastline surrounding the site by using seaweeds to capture radioactive discharges into the ocean from the stricken reactor .

"Bang!"?

I posted this on the #5Filters Forum (RIP our good friend Rhisiart Gwilym -companion on the Media Lens Forum, The Lifeboat News and 5Filters respectively-; "Ffarwel a gorffwys mewn hedd fy ffrind!"), two days ago, quote; "How many of you thought they heard a distant bang some nights ago? Serious question. I awoke last night into a nightmare feeling like I’d had a dose of u.v all over (I’m u.v “ultra” sensitive as I think I’ve mentioned before), I practice crystal healing and other forms of energy medicine such as dowsing, as you know, and I’m sure something very dark was stalking our land last night."

Promoting Elitism #X #Xting #freespeechshouldBEfree #thefullyverifiedgoose #buyinginfluence #censorship #ElonMusk #Twitterverse #socialmedia #meritocracy #anticulture #LoS #journalism #honourssystem

 

Although Elon Musk was unhappy with some of the activities Twitter had allowed on its platform prior to his purchase of the iconic social media giant his reason for trying to back out of his agreement to acquire it was financial rather than ethical (something both he and Twitter seem happy to allow to be quietly ignored, especially by the Main-Stream Media -MSM-), quote; "Musk’s argument largely rested on the allegation that Twitter misrepresented how it measures the magnitude of “spam bot” accounts that are useless to advertisers"; https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/elon-musk-offers-to-end-legal-fight-pay-44-billion-to-buy-twitter Caveat Emptor mister Musk, perhaps if your objections had been made on the grounds that such accounts are both ethically and morally dubious (a contentious point perhaps but nevertheless arguable especially if one intended to change the culture of the platform and was making the purchase on that basis -something Musk at least intimated-), your case would have had more traction. It is clear now that the noises Musk was making about wanting to democratise Twitter prior to the purchase were meant only for single-use public consumption, however, the chorus of protest against the actions of the new owner that has arisen from the ranks of those employed under the old regime smacks decidedly of sour grapes from those who are, undoubtedly, now getting the government they deserve, quote; "From the announcement of Musk’s bid to the day he walked into the office holding a sink, I watched, horrified, as he slowly killed Twitter’s culture*. Debate and constructive dissent was stifled on Slack, leaders accepted their fate or quietly resigned, and Twitter slowly shifted from being a company that cared about the people on the platform to a company that only cares about people as monetizable units. The few days I spent at Musk’s Twitter could best be described as a Lord of the Flies–like test of character as existing leadership crumbled, Musk’s cronies moved in, and his haphazard management—if it could be called that—instilled a sense of fear and confusion.": https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/02/elon-musk-twitter-ethics-algorithm-biases/673110/

*What culture? Twitter had already participated in the mass censorship of those opposed to the Globalised State's reaction to the Covid19 pandemic as-well as censorship of opinions and comments on other subjects which it felt could be labelled "Fake News". 

I was unable to view the following piece of censorship when using Twitter's "Moment" function fortunately I posted some of my Moments on several message boards/fora and my fellow users reported seeing it whilst being unable to access any of the Moment's content. As far as I was concerned my Moments were functioning properly:

Prior to this I had also had been "locked out" of Twitter for a week or so due, I was told by them, to a "bot check" (something done to establish whether or not you are "artificially intelligent"), however, again thanks to fellow members of the "Lifeboat News" (message board), Twitter were caught in the act, quote; "Your link can't be read Gerard...archived message

Link says: "This moment cannot be viewed because of potentially sensitive content"": https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/msg/archive/1562970679.html

I, however, was previously unaware of this, for presumably the same reason I had not been able view the banner above, being quite able to view my own content.

Clearly the Twitter administration had been unable to establish any legal reason to censor my articles on the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons in the Yemen by the Saudi/Egyptian/Israeli "Good Neighbour" alliance (see "Arafel" archive), and had backed off from their original position:

The picture above has become an Arafel exclusive simply because no other b**ger will publish it. My thanks to those in the Yemen who made it available to me!

 

Go to: https://forum.5filters.info/t/dr-vernon-coleman-nuclear-war-is-coming/3880/11 for videos and Arafel link.

Many thanks also to Ken Waldron of the "Lifeboat News" for his help, for on both occasions he has been interested enough in my work to try and access it and once finding himself unable to do has reported the fact to both myself and the online community. 

Nb. These breaches of my rights occurred before Twitter's purchase by the celebrated Mr.Musk!

In my post; "The Coming Storm from Forbidden America": https://www.arafel.co.uk/2022/02/the-coming-storm-from-forbidden-america.html I intimate that the raison d'etre for the American Right's protestations against the nature of the censorship to which they feel they are subject is not actually far removed from that which moves the British (and European), Left to object. This might, indeed, please Mr.Musk as he has oft stated his wish to aid Donald Trump in his "clearing of the swamp", quote: "The account, which Twitter banned following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, was restored after Twitter CEO and new owner Elon Musk posted a poll on Twitter on Friday night asking the platform’s users if Trump should be reinstated.

“The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated,” Musk tweeted Saturday night. “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Latin for “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”

The final poll results on Saturday night showed 51.8% in favor and 48.2% opposed. The poll included 15 million votes": https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/19/business/twitter-musk-trump-reinstate/index.html

Yet does Mr.Musk actually understand what the reason might be for Ouroboros to swallow its tail? Quote; 

"Wayne Anderson, an Avionics Technician is interviewed by Rob Balsamo, Co-Founder, Pilots For 9/11 Truth. Wayne reveals his observations of a remote guidance test on a Boeing 757 in which technology was used to control the aircraft remotely, while also being able to "Lockout" the Flight Crew from overriding the autopilot system in order to regain control of the airplane. The following interview discusses the details of this test which was performed prior to September 11, 2001, the violations of FAA regulations and the possibilities using such technology." Go to: http://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/msg/archive/1512081442.html & http://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/msg/archive/1512033259.html , also see;  
"The 9/11 Document that Launched US-NATO’s “War on Terrorism” in the Middle East" Go to: https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-mysterious-frank-taylor-report-the-911-document-that-launched-us-natos-war-on-terrorism-in-the-middle-east/5632874?print=1
(also from "The Coming Storm from Forbidden America").

 

Musk has also been equivocal about Covid19 vaccines, quote: "Tesla chief Elon Musk expressed support for COVID-19 vaccines despite previously raising questions about their safety and saying he wouldn’t get the jab himself.

The world’s second-richest man tried to clear up his vaccine views on Twitter after drawing ire last month for his vocal skepticism about two-dose regimens.": https://nypost.com/2021/04/08/elon-musk-says-he-supports-covid-vaccines-after-questioning-safety/ I wonder whether he is considering the reaction of his Trump supporting "fan base" when making such remarks.

I was, this time at least openly, censored by Twitter by being locked out of my account for Tweeting the comments of some of the more outspoken "anti-vaxxers" (such as Dr.Mercola: https://www.mercola.com/), and wonder, as I am sure many do, if myself and others like me would have attracted such opprobrium from the platform had it been in Musk's hands at the time.

Yet here's the rub, Musk seems keen to allow Twitter to be at least as anti-egalitarian as did his predecessors, if not more so. It seems that it is the nature of the beast that spawned globalist entrepreneurs like Musk, who are so wedded to the Social-Darwinist notion of individual transcendence, that its progeny are unable to express notions of social justice, quote: "Elon Musk defended “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams after hundreds of newspapers stopped printing the comic strip because of Adams’ recent racist comments.

Last week, Adams called Black Americans a “hate group” and suggested that White people should “get the hell away” from them. Adams effectively encouraged segregation in a shocking rant on his YouTube channel. His comments came in response to a poll from the conservative firm Rasmussen Reports that said 53% of Black Americans agreed with the statement, “It’s OK to be White.”

In response to a tweet about the controversy, Twitter owner Musk said Sunday that the “media is racist.” He didn’t criticize Adams’ comments, and Musk said without evidence that for a “very long time, US media was racist against non-white people, now they’re racist against whites & Asians.”

“Same thing happened with elite colleges & high schools in America,” Musk wrote. “Maybe they can try not being racist.”

Musk later agreed with a tweet saying Adams’ comments “weren’t good” but had an “element of truth” to them. He also accused the media of giving Black victims of police violence disproportionate coverage over White victims of police violence. Black people are more likely to die from police use of force than White people, according to multiple studies.": https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/27/business/elon-musk-scott-adams-defense/index.html

Now he wants to verify the correctness of the steps of his geese by charging for the process, quote; "Elon Musk has indicated that a verified account on Twitter in the future could cost $8 a month, despite facing a user backlash over proposals to charge for the feature.

The new owner of Twitter described the current system for allocating blue check marks – which verify a user as a trustworthy source – as “bullshit”* in a Twitter post to his more than 110 million followers on Tuesday.

“Twitter’s current lords & peasants system for who has or doesn’t have a blue checkmark is bullshit. Power to the people! Blue for $8/month,” he wrote, suggesting that a tick could be given to accounts that subscribe to the platform’s premium service, Blue, for $8 a month.": https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/nov/01/musk-charging-twitter-verified-accounts

Bullshit it may have been (as I said I'm no defender of the old regime), but relying on brute capital isn't the answer either. This is surely an example of the "anti-culture" to which the majority of us have been both encouraged and allowed ourselves to become so accustomed. Let's face it Twitter has never been an egalitarian platform, far from it, in-fact it has been an exemplar of cut throat laissez-faire since its inception. Americans, unsurprisingly, don't see it that way, being so wedded to the notion of;

"..."The pursuit of happiness", the phrase that appears in The Declaration of Independence that is held in the National Archives Museum in Washington, was not the phraseology that appeared in a preceding, and original, document (signed by possibly more -or the same number-, of the Founding Fathers than the other). Arendt would I think agree that as the upshot of "The American Revolution" was to see the instigation of, "perpetual war" between the republic and democracy and if, "by their works shall ye now them" it would not be surprising to discover that an earlier more egalitarian drafting of The Declaration existed. The notion that the learned elders were incapable of explicating from both the British and (at that time burgeoning), French revolutions a more egalitarian (and enlightened), conception of social well-being and social order seems most errant nonsense and is given no credence by the correspondence quoted in my previous post warning Washington of the influence of Illuminati, "free-marketeers" within the American Lodges. This "preceding document" to which I refer is supposed to have contained the phrase; "the pursuit of public happiness" rather than the shorter apparently more individualistic but apparently object-less (and therefore meaningless?)*,  one that appears on the version that is extant, it has also been suggested that Washington and others were responsible for secreting the original document away from the centres of power and beyond-the-gaze of those who wanted its destruction. That we see now how America continually, "makes war on its children" should also give credence to the notion that The New World never did truly sever its links with the old and simply substituted a dictatorial republican hierarchy for a monarchical one, that these same republicans should have been relying so heavily on our queen in order to maintain the status quo and further their own social- Darwinist agenda in recent years also suggests that the full story of The American Revolution (and how it is not yet over), has been deliberately kept from the American people.": https://www.arafel.co.uk/2018/02/part-2-washingtonpost.html

*Quote; "Howard Mumford Jones said the pursuit of happiness is, “the ghastly privilege of pursuing a phantom and embracing a delusion.”" Go to: https://hac.bard.edu/amor-mundi/hannah-arendt-and-the-poetics-of-the-pursuit-of-happiness-2020-09-08

Nb. Pls. see bottom page re: font.

Anti-Culture

The anti-meritocratic nature of Twitter has been allowed to develop by both those who fail to appreciate that one does, indeed, "get the government one deserves" and those who appreciate the principle only too well. Take the notion of "promoting" Tweets. "Promoting" is a service provided on the platform by which the user's chosen Tweet receives greater exposure by being inserted into the feed of others, it is not, therefore, free, as such it is a true laissez-faire indulgence whereby preference is given to those who possess capital and is fundamentally anti-democratic, furthermore, the price of promotion is graduated by scale (degree of exposure). 

When I joined Twitter I assumed that other users were participating on the platform because of the "organic" nature of its function, in other words, that Tweets would be routinely retweeted by one's followers who, in so doing, would recommend that Tweet to their followers and so on an so forth, for not only is such a function able to provide greater exposure for any Tweet it is also one of the essentials for attracting followers to the account of its progenitor. Should one's Tweet be retweeted by any of the users who are media celebrities (incl. specialists in their field etc.), who, already having a media profile, not only posses accounts which have a greater number of followers but also a greater percentage of those (than that of those of what one might describe as a "basic" account), will be of a (Twitter), demographic similar to that of the account holder, its content will ipso facto receive wider exposure. These principles seemed wonderfully egalitarian to me, however, I was to discover that the platform did not function this way in practice. 

I have found that there is corruption throughout the organs of the body politic represented on Twitter and that the infection of laissez-faire has blinkered all but a small percentage of account holders. Social media is a microcosm of the macrocosm and one can observe the same fear inducing monetarist propaganda promoting conformist behaviours on the social media platforms as one can in the wider society. Such conformist behaviour is exemplified by the seeming inability of those less well resourced to realise that they posses terrific strength in numbers and that, if they work together, they will be able to overturn a culture that allows for the domination of the majority by a privileged elite.

A tree does not grow from the canopy downwards it grows from the roots upward.

Philistinism 

There are examples of this kind of bias throughout the body politic and have been throughout history, previously, however, there have almost always been those who have been prepared to subvert the medium concerned and promote meritocracy rather than elitism yet, so far, this has not happened on Twitter. I have had a Twitter account for the past fourteen years, during this time I have continually striven to bring my work (esp. this blog), to the attention of those who one might describe as the "glitterati" or "intelligentsia" (whilst, hopefully, eschewing all vanguardist notions), in the hope that they may see its worth and, as a result, recommend (in other words "re-Tweet"), it to their followers on the platform. The only "re-tweeting" that has been done, however, is by me and that being from my former delusion that those more favoured than myself in terms of media exposure will be willing to support my work (and that of others), if they deem it to be of sufficient quality. Now one might argue; "well your work clearly isn't good enough!" Possibly but my other activities and qualifications would seem to give the lie to this, I've held responsible positions in more than a handful of societies and campaigning organisations. I am currently a member of SCIL "Spectrum"(an organisation dealing with the needs of those with a "spectrum" of disabilities), a community shareholder in our local community bookshop/resource "October Books" and am (at the time of posting), awaiting confirmation of my "UNITE Community" membership. I have been a local government representative for Southampton City Farm (as was), siting on Southampton Council's original (since defunct but fairly recently resurrected -which, speaking personally, I consider a vindication rather than a condemnation-), "Environment Forum"and have been working on the following recently: https://forum.5filters.info/t/harefield-community-centre-disgrace-so18hub-southampton-harefield/3738/3, https://forum.5filters.info/t/harefield-community-centre-disgrace-so18hub-southampton-harefield/3738/3 & https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23353437.harefield-community-centre-left-state-neglect-decade/

From left to right; Becky, Michael and myself at the "Spectrum" warm-space earlier this year.

 

The wilful partiality I describe is a neoliberal disease, which Chomsky would describe as part of the "manufacturing of consent", as such it represents the denouement of an ("anti-"), culture of; self-regarding, self-aggrandising, self-centred and basically selfish, fear-induced navel-gazing! Worse many of those who behave in this manner continually posture their ethical and moral credentials to an audience who remain (unsurprisingly), for the most part, unaware of just what hypocrites those whom they trust to inform, educate and entertain them truly are!

If one does eschew participation in the terrible war of all against all that is the desperate scramble for influence on Twitter the result is that the maximum number of followers one is able to attract to one's feed tends to be approximately 3,000-4,000, accounts with numbers in the tens of thousand or more belong to users who have either promoted their work or to celebrities of national or international renown whose feed is actively sought out by general users. My account has attracted nearly 3,000 followers, a paltry figure considering both the length of time I have been an active user and the amount of time and effort I have put in to the quality and exposure of my account's output.

It cannot be considered equitable that those with the resources to do so can immediately dominate their chosen narratives simply by buying attention with no preference given based on the quality of the content of their feed to others. Yet, as I have stated, this is also a cultural problem; "It's the icon that says "retweet" you precious sh*t-heads, use it, that's what it's for!" The same applies to the other icon that says "follow"! 

I do have one or two well-known followers (no names no pack-drill), but, here's the rub for the patriarchy, they are all female users. I have been blocked from the accounts of celebrities (usually those of a somewhat academic/specialist nature), far more often than I have been followed by them. I hasten to add that I am very careful that my Tweets do not appear to be either abusive or threatening (despite the obvious partiality oft displayed by Twitter's rules in these regards).

That no-one has raised these issues in the MSM should itself indicate the ubiquitous nature of the anti-culture I describe.

A fine exemplar of this Janusian attitude is the continual back-stabbing behaviour associated with the U.K's honours system. I have been repeatedly horrified when considering the yearly Honour's Lists at just how many people I formerly considered my "tovarisches" (and/or "kameraden"), have bent the knee whilst sticking a Churchill-ian two-fingers up at those who helped them attain such exalted status in our society. 

I'd have to name them to make a list yet you should all know to whom I refer and I would rather not soil my keyboard, furthermore when the system can be corrupted to such an extent who would want to be associated with it anyway?

So having established that I would receive no joy by appealing to their altruism I began simply to insert my work into the feeds of the hypocritical crew I describe at every opportunity and/or construct associated Twitter threads of enormous length in the hope that the blinkered ingrates might discern that the organ that protrudes from the middle of whichever face they happen to be inhabiting at the time is, indeed, olfactory in nature. These "Wise Monkeys" are, unfortunately, not a joke, however, for they display their (undoubted), heroism by enabling our anachronistic system to continue well past the termination date that might have been acceptable to propriety.

Free Speech Should be Free

So this is the thing and what an exemplar it is of the parlous nature of the (globalised), state we are in. It also gives the lie to the safety of much of the technology that enables this "via negativa" for one cannot make a silk-purse out of a sow's ear, quote; "The National Bullying Helpline has told Sky News there (is) an ‘escalating problem of children filming violence against other children then uploading to social media’.

The half-brother of a 13-year-old girl from Greater Manchester who was dragged to the ground by her hair and kicked in the head by other youngsters has issued the stark warning, saying ‘a child could be killed’.

The victim was leaving school and heading home at the end of the day when she was attacked at the gates.

A video of the assault circulated online as children in Rochdale shared it with others, just before the Easter holidays.

What appears to be two dozen other children are gathered around yelling and cheering.

An adult witness told Sky News there were around 40 kids present at the attack, which experts say is becoming a ‘sickening’ and ‘growing’ trend in Britain’s schools.

The motive for the attack was quite possibly the videos themselves — with a moment of notoriety on social media with content shared in private chats on WhatsApp, TikTok and Snapchat.": https://propermanchester.com/news/child-could-be-killed-as-sickening-trend-of-kids-filming-attacks-on-other-kids-grows/

When the instant gratification of one more push of the pleasure button is all that concerns one then, like all addicts, one cares not either who or what is damaged in the process of the drug's procurement.

 
In a meritocracy (Mr.Musk), people's work must be judged upon its merits! It should be impossible to buy influence, the "influencers" should have gained that status by their own efforts (those efforts having been acknowledged by an impartial audience). As I have said, though, this problem has beset man since the apple was propagandised and the solution has always been for those who actually posses moral compass to redress the balance by speaking truth to power. This is why it is so important that speech should be free.

First They Came – by Pastor Martin Niemöller

"First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me"

I received a privileged education at a prestigious establishment (I also received a first class extra-curricular one not associated with the institution), and I can justify the use of some of the scant resources at my disposal to promote my work. Having to do so is (as I hope I have intimated it would be), a source of great annoyance not to say sorrow; "Well it's only a few Dollar/Pounds either to promote your work or get verified! What's your beef?" 

Edit 07/08/2023: Oh the naivety of idealism! When I finally did decide to peruse the promotion process properly I discovered, to my horror, that even one promoted Tweet, on one occasion on one day, costs £10 (or around $13 dollars at the current exchange rate). There are many millions around the world to whom £10 represents a-lot of money and it's no small sum for anyone living on welfare payments here in the U.K either. 

This £10 "one shot wonder" is the very cheapest option available:

So who gets to speak freely? Only those with no voice.

I receive sickness/disablement State Benefits and the standard of living crisis has affected me as much as it has the majority of the U.K's citizens. How, I ask, is one meant to become an appropriately well-scrubbed "contributing member of society" if one's work remains unacknowledged (for it is surely only by my writing and associated artistic endeavours that I might one day make an "honest crust")? This is no joke either as my chronic conditions are aggravated by my lack of resources and I regularly fall sick, am injured by some contaminant or in a domestic accident (as I was two weeks ago when I had to have my thumb cauterised in A&E following a breakage in my tiny kitchen). Actions have consequences people and I make my remarks not just for my own sake but on behalf of all those who find themselves voiceless in our society (I know d**n well that many of my Twitter followers and their associates -in other words those who do actually get to read this article-, will know only too intimately the problems I describe). Like I said I had an (at least half-decent), education though which puts me in a better position than that of many also experiencing marginalisation at the hands of the stenching hypocrites. It is with sadness, therefore, that I announce here that "Arafel" and my other work could be receiving promotion on Twitter from now on. I have been handed a fait accompli I must pay for the privilege or remain (for the most part), silent. I have "endeavoured to persevere" over the years only to receive either no response or downright aggressive blocking of my account from those whose circumstances presuppose that they posses a sense of responsibility commensurate with their influence. It is beholden upon me, however, to continually restate the case against such inequalities and to make every effort to address the issue of freedom of speech on whatever platform I may be treading. I trust, therefore, that my readers will help me police my own actions and will unhesitatingly remind me should I betray the principles to which I have avowed. 

"Send men to summon worms!" Stilgar the Naib, Dune, Frank Herbert.

Nb. The various font problems I routinely experience on Blogger are just one example of the consequences of under-resourcing (& being a one-man-band), I hope my readers will indulge me and continue to endeavour to persevere!

Quote; “Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always."  Mahatma Gandhi.