Militarized Asteroids: The New Threat That No One Can Duck

OpEd

Will sophisticated militarized factions of advanced nations utilize asteroids to potentially terrorize other countries and or the citizens of earth in an (evil) God-like manner?

By Shepard Ambellas
Intellihub.com
March 24, 2013
In recent weeks we have been inundated with asteroid,  meteor and fireball reports worldwide.
A recent Friday meteor scare caught the attention of many people over the eastern United States. Mike Wall reports on NASA saying, “When you have something like this occur at 8 o’clock at night over one of the most populated regions of the United States, it’s going to get people’s attention,” according to Bill Cooke, head of the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., told reporters on Saturday.
In fact there were even reports and video that backed the theory that a spaced based weapon was utilized to split apart the meteor that struck Russia causing an enormous amount of property damage and over 1200 human injuries.
So why did a Russian politician named, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, claim the day of the Russian meteor strike that the American’s were testing a space weapon? Although we might not know the source of Zhirinovsky’s information, video evidence shows that something interacted with the asteroid in question that was already moving at 33,000 mph as it burned in toward earth. Whatever that something was, was moving considerably faster than that.
Was this an actual space based weapons test in action or a threat?
Do space based weapons even exist? The answer is yes.
There are several known space based weapons platforms in existence such as “Rods From God” and others. However, the one that split the asteroid might be utilizing a new ion technology according to sources.
Wikipedia explains the reality of such space based weapon platform concepts (the public version listed as an “idea”);

Project Thor

Project Thor is an idea for a weapons system that launches kinetic projectiles from Earth orbit to damage targets on the ground. Jerry Pournelle originated the concept while working in operations research at Boeing in the 1950s before becoming a science-fiction writer.^[1][2]
The most described system is “an orbiting tungsten telephone pole with small fins and a computer in the back for guidance”. The weapon can be down-scaled, an orbiting “crowbar” rather than a pole.^{[citation needed]} The system described in the 2003 United States Air Force (USAF) report was that of 20-foot-long (6.1 m), 1-foot-diameter (0.30 m) tungsten rods, that are satellite controlled, and have global strike capability, with impact speeds of Mach 10.^[3][4][5]
The time between deorbiting and impact would only be a few minutes, and depending on the orbits and positions in the orbits, the system woulstyle="font-family: Courier;">The idea is that the weapon would inflict damage because it moves at orbital velocities, at least 9 kilomeeded">^{citation needed]} There is no requirement to deploy missiles, aircraft or other vehicles. Although the SALT II (1979) prohibited the deployment of orbital weapons of mass destruction, it did not prohibit the deployment of conventional weapons. The system is prohibited by neither the Outer Space Treaty nor the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.^[4][6]
The idea is that the weapon would inflict damage because it moves at orbital velocities, at least 9 kilometers per second. Smaller weapons can deliver measured amounts of energy as small as a 225 kg conventional bomb.^{[citation needed]} Some systems are quoted as having the yield of a small tactical nuclear bomb.^[5] These designs are envisioned as a bunker buster.^[4][7]
In the case of the system mentioned in the 2003 USAF report above, a 6.1m x 0.3m tungsten cylinder impacting at Mach 10 has a kinetic energy equivalent to approximately 11.5 tons of TNT (or 7.2 tons of dynamite). The mass of such a cylinder is itself over 8 tons, so it is clear that the practical applications of such a system are limited to those situations where its other characteristics provide a decisive advantage – a conventional bomb/warhead of similar weight to the tungsten rod, delivered by conventional means, provides similar destructive capability and is a far more practical method.
The highly elongated shape and high density are to enhance sectional density and therefore minimize kinetic energy loss due to air friction and maximize penetration of hard or buried targets. The larger device is expected to be quite good at penetrating deeply buried bunkers and other command and control targets.^[8] The smaller “crowbar” size might be employed for anti-armor, anti-aircraft, anti-satellite and possibly anti-personnel use.^{[citation needed]}
The weapon would be very hard to defend against. It has a very high closing velocity and a small radar cross-section. Launch is difficult to detect. Any infra-red launch signature occurs in orbit, at no fixed position. The infra-red launch signature also has a small magnitude compared to a ballistic missile launch. One drawback of the system is that the weapon’s sensors would almost certainly be blind during atmospheric reentry due to the plasma sheath that would develop ahead of it, so a mobile target could be difficult to hit if it performed any unexpected maneuvering.^{[citation needed}
 The system would also have to cope with atmospheric heating from re-entry, which could melt the weapon.^[9]
While the larger version might be individually launched, the smaller versions would be launched from “pods” or “carriers” that contained several missiles.^{[citation needed]}
The phrase “Rods from God” is also used to describe the same concept.^[10] A USAF report called them “hypervelocity rod bundles”.^[11]
So now we have to ask ourselves, how deep does all of this go?
A February 24th report details;
 At a meeting devoted to Defender of the Fatherland Day yesterday, Rogozin said, “This can provoke an undesirable effect. Under cover of fighting asteroid impacts, certain states will be used as a pretext for exploiting space for military purposes.”ag style manner? A manner in which only an act of God could be to blame.
Sources:
^http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2279629/Thats-meteor-American-weapon-test-Russian-politicians-bizarre-claim-10-ton-space-rock-Cuba-claims-hit-earlier-week.html
^While certain nations claim to seek asteroid defense technologies, others might possess asteroid offensive technologies, the kind that leave no fingerprints and can be blamed on God. So is the cat out of the bag between governments that the US possesses such a devise and if so, will the devise be used to torment countries, or will the devise be used to torment citizens of the earth in the ultimate false flag style manner? A manner in which only an act of God could be to blame.
Sources:
^http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2279629/Thats-meteor-American-weapon-test-Russian-politicians-bizarre-claim-10-ton-space-rock-Cuba-claims-hit-earlier-week.html
^http://news.discovery.com/space/asteroids-meteors-meteorites/east-coast-meteor-asteroid-130324.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
^http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment
***** 

Message from Montague Keen - March 24, 2013

The Rumor Mill News Reading Room 

Message from Montague Keen - March 24, 2013

Posted By: Mr.Ed [Send E-Mail]
Date: Sunday, 24-Mar-2013 20:28:41

Message from Montague Keen - March 24, 2013 My dear, life does not get any easier. The battle is raging between the light and the dark. It is especially hard for those of you who are sensitive. Be aware and alert. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security. The survival of the human race is what is at stake and this statement is by no means an exaggeration. It is absolute fact. Many of you still refuse to accept this statement as fact. You believe that if you refuse to look at the facts, they will just go away. This is the take-over of the human race we are talking about here. It affects every last one of you. There is no time for niceties. You need to face the facts as they are not as you would like them to be. I wish that I could be the bearer of good news but your survival is what is important to me. You must know by now that when you come together to work with us in Spirit, the dark side will fail and withdraw from Planet Earth, never to return. They are the infiltrators, who pass themselves off as fellow human beings, though always as "superior" to everyone else. They manipulate absolutely everything that the ordinary human needs for his very existence. All this has been kept well hidden from you, but brave souls have stepped out of line and are making this information available to you. They are prepared to suffer the consequences for doing so. I beg you all, be awake and be aware, at all times! You are mere meat to them. They have no souls. They succeeded in convincing you that they are just like you. This is absolutely not the case at all. The women of Ireland have awakened to this fact. They are a shining example of how to deal with it. They challenge it in the courts of law. There is no need for violence. It must be done with dignity and respect, in the sure knowledge that what you are doing is right and just. Stop seeing yourselves as victims. This is exactly how they want you to see yourselves, as victims without hope. You know in your souls that this is not so, for you are powerful beings of light having an experience on Earth. Your task is to rescue the Earth from the clutches of the Dark Ones. When you come together, you will realize this fact is absolutely true. Forget all the man-made divisions. You are all one. You cannot fail. Meditation is important. Please try to find the time to go into your higher selves for inspiration. You are spiritual beings. It is time to reconnect with your spiritual side. This will help you awaken to the truth of who you are. Religions have discouraged meditation and some even forbade any connection with spirit. This is why you were lost in the wilderness of lies and deception for so long. It is time to remove the shackles that kept you in darkness. The next few weeks will not be easy as the struggle becomes more visible. It will take strength of character to stand up for truth and justice. The Dark Ones have left no stone unturned in their plans to take over your planet. They control everything that is necessary for humanity to survive. You have unknowingly assisted them in this take-over. Now, you must assist your fellow man to survive. You must awaken to the extent of the deception. Listen to those who are speaking out. They are revealing the real facts. I am not suggesting that this will be comfortable for you, but believe me, it is necessary. You have no time to lose. The world is not as you were taught that it is, and this is a fact. There are ships from friendly planets surrounding the Earth, awaiting the call of mankind to come to its assistance. They will physically come to your aid. They will NEVER INVADE the Earth: they must be invited. They come in peace and love. They are aware of what is needed and they will not fail you. They are your friends. They understand your plight and they sympathize with your predicament. You have nothing to fear but everything to gain. You will create a future that embraces all humanity, with no divisions of any sort. All will be part of the universe, just as it was in ancient times. You have become the protectors of your planet and all humanity. So much depends on you at this time. You have become the Army of the Light, whose only weapon is LOVE. There is no greater power than that of love. Love survives all. Your future depends on whatever action that you take at this time of change. Arm yourselves with as much absolute truth as possible and refrain from being brain-washed by television and newspapers. Choose carefully where you get your facts from. Become wise by going into your heart and soul to check whether the information feels right. If it does, then go with it: if it does not sit comfortably with you, then reject it. Mistakes at this time could be very costly, so take time to consider everything carefully as your decisions affect others. Reject the distractions that will be pushed forward and used against you. This is no time for games of this sort. My dear, we are aware of the difficulties that you are trying to deal with. We are endeavoring to find the solutions, then we will guide you. Support your friend. It is a painful time, but one that must be faced. Then, they can move forward without distraction or hindrance. It is never easy to face the fact that a situation was not as one believed it to be. Be there to listen, to support and to guide, through the hurt that is inevitable. Friends are very valuable at such times. Be there with open arms to listen and sympathize. Go forward together into the light in the sure knowledge that it will overcome the darkness and all the evil will be removed. Exposure to the light is something they cannot deal with: it is their greatest fear. My dear, all will be as it was always intended to be. Have no fear, the right people will be at your side. You know who you are, and why you are on the Earth at this time. We will not fail you. Always, your adoring, Monty. Website: The Montague Keen Foundation http://www.montaguekeen.com/

Secret Memos Expose Link Between Oil Firms and Invasion of Iraq

By Clark Kent
Hang The Bankers
March 24, 2013
Plans to exploit Iraq’s oil reserves were discussed by government ministers and the world’s largest oil companies the year before Britain took a leading role in invading Iraq, government documents show.
The papers, revealed here for the first time, raise new questions over Britain’s involvement in the war, which had divided Tony Blair’s cabinet and was voted through only after his claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
The minutes of a series of meetings between ministers and senior oil executives are at odds with the public denials of self-interest from oil companies and Western governments at the time.
The documents were not offered as evidence in the ongoing Chilcot Inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the Iraq war. In March 2003, just before Britain went to war, Shell denounced reports that it had held talks with Downing Street about Iraqi oil as “highly inaccurate”. BP denied that it had any “strategic interest” in Iraq, while Tony Blair described “the oil conspiracy theory” as “the most absurd”.
But documents from October and November the previous year paint a very different picture.
Five months before the March 2003 invasion, Baroness Symons, then the Trade Minister, told BP that the Government believed British energy firms should be given a share of Iraq’s enormous oil and gas reserves as a reward for Tony Blair’s military commitment to US plans for regime change.
The papers show that Lady Symons agreed to lobby the Bush administration on BP’s behalf because the oil giant feared it was being “locked out” of deals that Washington was quietly striking with US, French and Russian governments and their energy firms.
Minutes of a meeting with BP, Shell and BG (formerly British Gas) on 31 October 2002 read: “Baroness Symons agreed that it would be difficult to justify British companies losing out in Iraq in that way if the UK had itself been a conspicuous supporter of the US government throughout the crisis.”
The minister then promised to “report back to the companies before Christmas” on her lobbying efforts.
The Foreign Office invited BP in on 6 November 2002 to talk about opportunities in Iraq “post regime change”. Its minutes state: “Iraq is the big oil prospect. BP is desperate to get in there and anxious that political deals should not deny them the opportunity.”
After another meeting, this one in October 2002, the Foreign Office’s Middle East director at the time, Edward Chaplin, noted: “Shell and BP could not afford not to have a stake in [Iraq] for the sake of their long-term future… We were determined to get a fair slice of the action for UK companies in a post-Saddam Iraq.”
Whereas BP was insisting in public that it had “no strategic interest” in Iraq, in private it told the Foreign Office that Iraq was “more important than anything we’ve seen for a long time”.
BP was concerned that if Washington allowed TotalFinaElf’s existing contact with Saddam Hussein to stand after the invasion it would make the French conglomerate the world’s leading oil company. BP told the Government it was willing to take “big risks” to get a share of the Iraqi reserves, the second largest in the world.
Over 1,000 documents were obtained under Freedom of Information over five years by the oil campaigner Greg Muttitt. They reveal that at least five meetings were held between civil servants, ministers and BP and Shell in late 2002.
The 20-year contracts signed in the wake of the invasion were the largest in the history of the oil industry. They covered half of Iraq’s reserves – 60 billion barrels of oil, bought up by companies such as BP and CNPC (China National Petroleum Company), whose joint consortium alone stands to make £403m ($658m) profit per year from the Rumaila field in southern Iraq.
Last week, Iraq raised its oil output to the highest level for almost decade, 2.7 million barrels a day – seen as especially important at the moment given the regional volatility and loss of Libyan output. Many opponents of the war suspected that one of Washington’s main ambitions in invading Iraq was to secure a cheap and plentiful source of oil.
Mr Muttitt, whose book Fuel on the Fire is published next week, said: “Before the war, the Government went to great lengths to insist it had no interest in Iraq’s oil. These documents provide the evidence that give the lie to those claims.
“We see that oil was in fact one of the Government’s most important strategic considerations, and it secretly colluded with oil companies to give them access to that huge prize.”
Lady Symons, 59, later took up an advisory post with a UK merchant bank that cashed in on post-war Iraq reconstruction contracts. Last month she severed links as an unpaid adviser to Libya’s National Economic Development Board after Colonel Gaddafi started firing on protesters. Last night, BP and Shell declined to comment.
www.fuelonthefire.com

Not about oil? what they said before the invasion

* Foreign Office memorandum, 13 November 2002, following meeting with BP:“Iraq is the big oil prospect. BP are desperate to get in there and anxious that political deals should not deny them the opportunity to compete. The long-term potential is enormous…”
* Tony Blair, 6 February 2003: ”Let me just deal with the oil thing because… the oil conspiracy theory is honestly one of the most absurd when you analyse it. The fact is that, if the oil that Iraq has were our concern, I mean we could probably cut a deal with Saddam tomorrow in relation to the oil. It’s not the oil that is the issue, it is the weapons…”
* BP, 12 March 2003: ”We have no strategic interest in Iraq. If whoever comes to power wants Western involvement post the war, if there is a war, all we have ever said is that it should be on a level playing field. We are certainly not pushing for involvement.”
* Lord Browne, the then-BP chief executive, 12 March 2003: ”It is not in my or BP’s opinion, a war about oil. Iraq is an important producer, but it must decide what to do with its patrimony and oil.”
* Shell, 12 March 2003, said reports that it had discussed oil opportunities with Downing Street were ‘highly inaccurate’, adding: ”We have neither sought nor attended meetings with officials in the UK Government on the subject of Iraq. The subject has only come up during conversations during normal meetings we attend from time to time with officials… We have never asked for ‘contracts’.”

http://intellihub.com/2013/03/24/secret-memos-expose-link-between-oil-firms-and-invasion-of-iraq/

Could this be why the bankers done what they did to Cyprus ????

World’s First Bitcoin ATM Is Announced – First Location: Cyprus

By Jeff Berwick
The Dollar Vigilante
March 25, 2013
While European politicos negotiate in Brussels, deciding the fate of other people’s money in Cyprus, the free market has already moved in to help Cypriots get access to their money via other means…
Banks have been closed for the last week in Cyprus and if they do re-open on Tuesday, it has now been announced that daily withdrawal limits at ATMs will be 100 euros per day.  
As the Cypriot Drama unfolds before our very eyes, I began pondering what tangible solutions there are to bank holidays and bank runs. What could I do to help in Cyprus and all other countries (like Spain, Greece and Italy) for which, as we have predicted at TDV, bank closures are coming?  The answer wasn’t hard to come up with. If these people had simply bought bitcoins with their savings, not only would they currently have 100% access to their funds, but also they would have enjoyed a parabolic move to the upside over past months.
ENTER THE WORLD’S FIRST OPERATIONAL BITCOIN ATM
Upon examination of the marketplace and many discussions with Justin O’Connell (TDV Newsletter & Gold Silver Bitcoin), as well as another key strategic partner of ours, I have decided to move forward with that I believe could be the next multi-billion dollar business venture: Bitcoin ATM.
But that isn’t all. It is wholly our intention at Bitcoin ATM to put the company in the right position to open its very first ATM in Cyprus. If we did this now, and we are moving quickly to make this so, we would be the only functioning ATM on the island.
How do I know this is such a good idea? Just look at what Bloomberg recently wrote about Bitcoin as currency:
One place where it’s not safe is in Bitcoin. Bitcoin is generally referred to as a “digital currency” or “virtual currency,” a form of cash that doesn’t need government backing. Unfortunately  it’s missing the most essential aspect of money: it’s not useful for buying anything. Bitcoin’s rise as a tool for financial speculation underlines the failure of the virtual currency idea.
As Dollar Vigilante readers will know, I take issue with a number of assumptions in this paragraph. For instance, no economic law exists (in the real world) which stipulates that cash needs government backing. Also, I have found that Bitcoin is useful for many things, not the least of which are the many things we accept Bitcoin for here at TDV Media, such as TDV Offshore, TDV Passports, TDV Newsletter, TDV Homegrown, and Get Your Gold Out Of Dodge.
I am not the first person to note Bitcoin’s Aristotelian attributes as money.
Durability: Bitcoin exists on the networks of users everywhere. Just like the internet, there is no singular switch to turn Bitcoin off. Bitcoin has already seen tremendous volatility, and the userbase has remained.
Portability: What’s more portable than a flash drive? Or, how about a private key memorized in your brain. There is nothing more portable than a thought, and that’s what Bitcoin can be if you memorize your private key and keep the coins on a cold storage medium (also another technology the Bitcoin ATM team has planned).
Fungibility: Bitcoin is divisible up to 8 decimal places.  That means that at its current growth (inflation) rate of 3,600 bitcoin-a-day, the ultimate total amount of 21,000,000 bitcoin ever to be on the market can be divided among billions of people on the planet.
Intrinsic Value: A bet for Bitcoin is a bet for the Internet. We all have first hand experience with the intrinsic value of the Internet. What’s more, Bitcoin values the notion of privacy in a world where privacy has become scarcer than silver.
In Europe, institutions like the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank & the German Federal Government have forced individuals to suffer through the confiscation and devaluation of their savings through techniques like taxes, levies and inflation.
The European Central Bank published a report in October, which stated that increased demand for Bitcoin “could have a negative impact on the reputation of central banks,” particularly if the public perceives Bitcoin’s value is due to “a central bank not doing its job properly.” Yet another reason why I know this idea is a good one.
These reasons and others are why I feel that Bitcoin ATM’s time is now. We picked our slogan, “Your Future Now,” to demonstrate the immediacy with which we feel we must roll out this technology.
I’ve founded many successful internet companies, and rarely have I been as excited about an idea as Bitcoin ATM. I’ve got a great, knowledgeable team who has already contacted important people within and without the ATM and bitcoin communities to make this feasible. You’ll be intrigued by the unexpected relationships we’re forging to bring Bitcoin to more people across the globe. In gauging shop owners in the digital currency unfriendly state of California last week, the Bitcoin ATM team discovered great interest from not only those who knew Bitcoin, but also from those who did not. Stateless currencies will be a way of the future, and that’s why Bitcoin ATM, and why now.
BITCOIN ATM FUNCTIONALITY
At this moment in time, you can deposit fiat currency into Bitcoin ATM and receive bitcoins to your account. You can also send bitcoins and receive fiat currencies (although there are some difficulties in the latter due to network-specific requirements).  
OWN YOUR OWN BITCOIN ATM’S – POSSIBLE BUSINESS VENTURE OF THE DECADE
Ever wish you had gotten involved in the early stages of the internet in 1994?  Or bought gold in 2000?  Or invested in Microsoft in the 80s?  I see bitcoin and things like Bitcoin ATM as being the next big thing.  And, this is not the first time I’ve recognized a massive paradigm shift as I did starting Canada’s largest financial website in 1994… and became a gold advocate early in the last decade and starting up The Dollar Vigilante in 2009 with a focus on protecting from The End Of The Monetary System As We Know It (TEOTMSAWKI)… something that is in full flight as people in Cyprus can attest.
As stated, we want to roll out these ATMs as quickly as possible.  Very obvious first locations would be in nations which are currently undergoing capital controls such as Argentina and Iran.  But, even more than that, there are communities of freedom minded individuals sprouting up all over the world.  A few bitcoin ATMs in the free state, New Hampshire, where thousands of freedom loving agorists have already moved is a no brainer.  Other areas that make complete sense include places like Chile where many are now gravitating as well as Cafayate in Argentina where Doug Casey has already formed his freedom loving expat community.
I am convinced bitcoin will be the currency of the future… and all the attacks on it by governments and central banks shows they know it.  
If you are interested in getting more info on becoming a franchisee in a particular area and installing a Bitcoin ATM in that region, please contact us at bitcoinatm@bitcoinatm.com.  As well, as things grow – and I expect it to be rapid – we may accept investors who are interested.  You can contact us about that at the same email bitcoinatm@bitcoinatm.com.
About  the Author and Founder:
Anarcho-Capitalist.  Libertarian.  Freedom fighter against mankind’s two biggest enemies, the State and the Central Banks.  Jeff Berwick is the founder of The Dollar Vigilante, CEO of TDV Media & Services and host of the popular video podcast, Anarchast.  Jeff is a prominent speaker at many of the world’s freedom, investment and gold conferences as well as regularly in the media.
http://intellihub.com/2013/03/25/worlds-first-bitcoin-atm-is-announced-first-location-cyprus/

Kratom: The Miracle Healing Leaf

By Dustin P.
Waking Times
March 24, 2013
Kratom, derived from a Thai word for a species of tree known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a large tree in the Rubiaceae family that grows native in Southeast Asia. In the wild, the trees can grow higher than 60 feet and wider than 15 feet. The leaves can have either light or dark red veins, and the leaves can be either a light green or a dark green in color.
The leaves are elongated and oval, with a straight vein from bottom to tip and symmetrical veins shooting off from the main vein. The tree has a very topical appearance, and grows in wet or marshy areas in Southeast Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and New Guinea. The Kratom tree produces round yellowish flower pods which contain around 50 seeds.
One of the earliest mentions of Kratom was by Pieter Korthals in the early 19th century, a Dutch Botanist who described its flowers as reminding him somewhat of a Bishop’s mitre. Thus, he named this tree Mitragyna. In the time of Korthals, Kratom was a historically used remedy in Thailand.
It was used as a cure-all for various physical and mental ailments. The ancient history of Kratom is unknown, and sources describing its use prior to European Colonization are scarce. Regardless, there is little doubt that this tree had been used by the indigenous populations of Southeast Asia for millennia. Typically, Kratom is used by laborers or farmers who would use the leaves on the tree for energy while working, as coffee drinkers use coffee in the morning or as a ‘pick me up’.
In 1943, the Thai government passed the “Kratom Act 2486″ essentially banning the Kratom tree. However, being as the trees as indigenous to Thailand, banning them would be comparable to banning Pine trees or Oak trees in the United States. The ban was totally unsuccessful, and use continued since.
Although the effects of Kratom ingestion are comparable to that of Coffee in mildness, Kratom is classified in the same category as Cocaine and Heroin in some countries including Thailand. Possessing even an ounce of the leaf from this tree could be punished by death in Thailand. Although death sentences are rare, individuals who sell Kratom usually face up to several years in prison. Today, Kratom is grown in several countries in Southeast Asia as well as other tropical countries by individu-als hoping to propagate this great tree.
Today, most people can openly grow and possess Kratom without fear of punishment. However, as countries prohibit or outlaw Kratom, the qualities and the quality control are severely damaged. Right now, it is easy to buy powdered Kratom leaf for medicinal purposes without fear of it being tainted with other substances.
However, if Kratom were to be outlawed in more countries then the black-market would put this to an end. As is always the case with black-market goods, individuals purchasing kratom could be in fear of buying something that is not Kratom at all and perhaps even something that is poisonous or deadly. Regulation is necessary, but prohibiting Kratom usage could do nothing but harm innocent users around the world.
The Kratom leaf is usually traditionally chewed, dried and powdered and then mixed with foods, or boiled into a tea. The leaf itself is what has the medicinal properties on the Kratom tree. The Kratom leaf contains numerous active alkaloids. One of the main alkaloids is known as Mitragynine, which comes from the name of the tree. Mitragynine is a mu-opioid receptor agonist. This means that it produces a physiological response when binding to the mu-opioid receptor. Another major alkaloid in the Kratom leaf is 7-Hydroxymitragynine, which is also a mu-opioid agonist. (Vicknasingam B, 2010) (Takayama H, 2002)
Kratom is used around the world today and it is usually sold in herbal shops, alternative medicine stores and also on the internet. Kratom users around the world live in constant fear of their medicine being outlawed by politicians seeking to demonize another herbal medicine. Politicians do this because it makes them appear to be doing their job, protecting the people from another “dangerous plant”. In reality, Kratom is totally safe when used in moderation and politicians rely on propaganda and false information to get their laws passed. One major problem associated with Kratom is that there are countless people out there who seek to do nothing more than earn a quick buck with this tree, and mix it with dangerous substances and then sell it as a “legal high”. This is the most damaging thing that can happen to any herbal medicine, and Kratom is no exception. Kratom users around the world keep an eye out for greedy people who seek to claim Kratom is some “legal high”. In reality, you don’t get “high” from kratom anymore than you get high from Coffee. If anyone claims that Kratom makes you “high” then they must also claim that Coffee makes you “high” by the same logic.
Kratom is compared to coffee in many ways. Kratom comes from the coffee family; however instead of the beans being powdered and used the leaf is powdered with Kratom. Kratom is also similar to coffee in the mildness of its effects. Kratom produces calming effects, but also stimulating effects at the same time. The strength of these effects is exactly the same as Coffee is and at exactly the same amount. Though, one could argue that Coffee is much stronger since coffee must be diluted and mixed with water before used.
Is Kratom addictive? Well, people who claim that Kratom is addictive have never used it and know no one who has ever used it. Kratom is as addictive as coffee is. Now, having used Kratom for years and having used coffee for years, many can testify to this fact. Also, having spoken to countless Kratom users who are also coffee drinkers, this is always the situation. If anyone who has drank coffee for years and then tries to quit, it would be essentially the same for someone who has used Kratom for years and tries to quit. So, if you ever hear someone claim that “Kratom is addictive” then just say “Yeah, about as addictive as coffee!”
Is Kratom unhealthy? No. Not at all. While it is true that many people may have side effects from using Kratom, this is usually because they mixed it with other things or ate too much of it. Eating too much Kratom can produce nausea at mild levels. There have not been many valid long-term studies which have been studying the long-term effects of Kratom, but personal experience with people who have used for several years suggests that there are no long-term side effects. Kratom should not be consumed by people under the age of 18, on the same grounds that coffee should not be consumed by chil-dren. Consuming large amounts of Kratom can be dangerous, as can large amounts of coffee. Mixing Kratom with other substances is also not advised due to adverse effects.
(Nelsen JL, 2010)
Kratom is NOT comparable to alcohol. Kratom users can attest that driving while using Kratom is nev-er a problem. Someone who has eaten some Kratom and then drives, Kratom will have about as much as an effect on driving as 1 cup of coffee might have. Perhaps if a huge amount of Kratom is used be-fore driving, this might have a negative effect but this would also be true of Coffee as well. Kratom is CERTAINLY NOT comparable to any illegal drugs. Kratom, being compared to Coffee in terms of strength, would never compare to any hard illegal drugs.
Why do people use Kratom? People use Kratom for many reasons ranging from treating depression, anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain, migraines, etc. Kratom has many uses for many different ailments. Many people who use Kratom used to use more severe pharmaceutical drugs to treat their ill-nesses, but having experienced far too many side effects now use Kratom. I personally have used every anti-depressant under the sun and none worked and the side effects were all too severe for me to deal with. Kratom, however, essentially cures my depression when used on a regular basis in small amounts. Kratom has also been used by many people as a cure for addiction to various drugs, even including hardcore illegal drugs. The benefits of kratom are vast indeed!
(Boyer EW, 2008)
Who uses Kratom? What types of people use Kratom? The answer to this question is simple: All types of people use Kratom. Kratom is used by both upper and lower class, educated and uneducated, conservatives and liberals, all races and ethnicities and all ages. Kratom is not some teen-craze but is most commonly used by adults, a lot like Coffee. The same types of people who drink coffee also eat Kratom. For the same exact reasons. I’ve witnessed many many testimonies from individuals who use Kratom for many purposes and I would like to share some of them here in this article. Please read through these carefully and put yourself in the shoes of these individuals who are resorting to this natural plant to treat and/or cure many of their ailments.
(Takayama H, 2002)
Testimonies
There is a testimony from a woman who had been addicted to opiates because she was pre-scribed them for pain by a doctor. She was given dangerous pharmaceuticals to treat this addiction, which she also became addicted to and she stated that the withdrawal was worse for this pharmaceutical than it was for Morphine which she was previously addicted to.
She wasn’t able to work or pay her bills and accidentally stumbled upon this leaf from a tree called “Kratom”. She was curious and, des-perate to try anything, and after using it for only a few weeks was totally cured of her addiction to pharmaceutical drugs. After a few weeks she went back to work, spent time with her children, and live her life.
She trusted her doctor, but that trust was misplaced as he simply gave her a drug even more addicting than what she was already addicted to. She suffered in silence for years until finally discovering the benefits of Kratom. She is currently 100% drug free. She only uses Kratom a few times a month as a natural remedy to treat her PTSD. Now her daughters have a mother, and now this woman has her life back!
I’ve heard a testimony from a man who suffered from chronic pain due to an injury and, as a natural medicine supporter, this man sought a herbal remedy to his chronic pain. He stumbled upon Kratom which has essentially turned his life around. Instead of suffering from pain all day long, this man uses Kratom (In addition to other natural supplements as well as Ibuprofen and a good physical recovery workout routine) and he no longer has pain. It has vanished. This man could be currently addicted to dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, but he choose to use a natural alternative which is no more addictive than coffee.
I’ve heard another story from a man who became addicted to vicodin due to chronic pain at the age of 18. This person suffered severely from their addiction and eventually lost everything because of it. The dangerous narcotics were killing this man and after getting a health checkup he realized that he had to stop or he was going to die.
Now how is he life after discovering Kratom? Great! He is married and now has children and lives a happy and healthy life. Kratom cured this man of his addiction to Vicodin and now he uses it to improve his own health. This life-saving tree has saved yet another person’s life.
One of the most inspiring testimonies that I have heard is from a woman who served in the military, and I quote her story here:
”After serving in multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I found myself suffering from not only physi-cal pain from multiple head injuries, as well as back and knee injuries. I left the Army and was given Oxycodone by the VA to help manage the pain. Despite trying to be careful about the use of this drug, I found myself craving it more and more. I also found that I would have severe mood swings while on it, not to mention the withdrawals if I decided not to take it for a day or ran out. When the Oycodone wore off the pain returned ten-fold, prompting me to take more. After years of using it, the effects lasted less than an hour. I was constantly tired and found it difficult to perform daily tasks. Without the drug, how-ever, I was often in too much pain to go about daily business. The Oxy also did nothing for the mi-graines caused by the brain injury nor did it help for the neuropathy. Life was pain-filled misery. A couple of years ago, I discovered Kratom and began substituting it for the Oxycodone. I found that, unlike the Oxy, I could take Kratom for a week or two straight without tolerance issues and then stop taking it without withdrawals. The more I substituted Kratom for Oxy while I was in pain, the less depression and mood swings I experienced. There was no nausea, tiredness, or rebound pain. I didn’t crave Kratom or have to take it out of fear of withdrawal symptoms. I can take it on a day when the pain is bad and not take it the next few days or weeks without being sick and agitated like with the pre-scription drugs given to me by the VA. It demolishes the migraines and relieves pain from the nerve damage even. With no mental cloudiness or tiredness from Kratom, I can go about my life with relative ease and a semblance of normalcy. I have not renewed my Oxycodone prescription since May or June and had stopped taking them long before that. Kratom gave me my life back. I would really appreciate it if the government wouldn’t take that away from me again…”
If this is not an inspiring testimony which attests to the pure benefits of Kratom, then I don’t know what is. This story offers us a distinct look into what kind of people Kratom helps.
There is also a testimony from a law enforcement officer who uses Kratom to help with chronic pain. This officer, who serves his community diligently, is not allowed to take pain-killers on a regular basis and so must rely on natural alternatives like Kratom. Now Kratom is under threat of being banned in his state because of disinformation and ignorance.
What will this man now do? That is the question we must all ask ourselves when we turn away from dangerous pharmaceuticals in exchange for safe natural remedies. It is only a matter of time until special interests outlaw them.

Conclusions

Today the future of this wonderful tree looks bleak indeed. Looking at the history of other herbal substances that have been outlawed for no valid reason at all, Kratom is just next inline to be victim to propaganda, ignorance and false information. What can be done about this? Keep an eye on Kraton in the news. Go to Google News and type in “Kratom” and keep an eye on the news revolving around Kratom. Any time you see false information in the news then simply E-mail those responsible for the incorrect articles and tell them the facts.
Don’t let this wonderful medicinal leaf be outlawed because of propaganda, demonetization and false information! Stand up for your right to use medicines that are alternatives to dangerous pharmaceuticals! If you don’t stand up now, in the future when you get sick you will be forced to use dangerous drugs with countless side effects sold by corrupt pharmaceutical companies! Either that or you’ll be forced to suffer without any medicine.
Works Cited:
- Boyer EW, B. K. (2008). Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal using kratom (Mitragynia speciosa korth). Addiction, 1048-50.
– Nelsen JL, L. J. (2010). Seizure and coma following Kratom (Mitragynina speciosa Korth) exposure. J Med Toxicol, 424-6.
– Takayama H, I. H. (2002). Studies on the synthesis and opioid agonistic activities of mitragynine-related indole alkaloids: discovery of opioid agonists structurally different from other opioid ligands. J Med Chem, 1949-56.
– Vicknasingam B, N. S. (2010). The informal use of ketum (Mitragyna speciosa) for opioid withdrawal in the northern states of peninsular Malaysia and implications for drug substitution therapy. Int J Drug Policy, 283-8
http://intellihub.com/2013/03/24/kratom-the-miracle-healing-leaf/

Future Flu Shots Made From Dog and Insect Cells?

March 24, 2013

By Anne Gordon
Waking Times
March 25, 2013
We are in desperate times and many people are completely oblivious to the fact.  Rats that eat GMO food have been shown to grow deadly tumors. Our water is often tainted with plastic leaching BPA, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and other toxins – not to mention the intentional injection of mind-numbing fluoride into our drinking water ‘for our teeth.’ 
Barium salts, and aluminum have been documented as aerosols sprayed into the atmosphere for mysterious reasons which range from communication enhancements, to weather control, and, what is often termed “conspiracies.’
Our air, food, and water appear to be tainted with poisons putting public health at risk. But, this is getting creepier every minute. Today with the accelerating exponential growth in technology, so called experts, are experimenting with Frankenstein-like potions to be sold to an uninformed public. New vaccines combining technology with genetic engineering are being designed and  approved today, for quicker-greater yield. Such is the case with the soon to be flu shots, for example.
Influenza is nasty, there is no question. However, it changes yearly, so it is difficult to predict the exact antigens needed for the vaccine to be effective. This year was no exception as stated by experts. They have said that the vaccine did not work very effectively for seniors over 65 this year, although appeared to provide some protection among the young.
According to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, “when it came to seniors, the group that needs the most protection, it worked quite inadequately, frankly.”  The suggestion is that next year, a double dose might be better while new vaccines stronger, and more ‘universal’ are being developed. And yet, the Cochrane Database Review of flu vaccines in the elderly, and even those taken by healthcare who work with the elderly, has consistently found flu vaccines do not work.
Producing the traditional influenza vaccine is time consuming, and with future projections of more flu, the ‘old’ fashioned 60-year old method of producing flu vaccine is obsolete.  It has typically taken millions of egg cultures and six months of time to grow and harvest enough flu antigen.
According to Reuters, the FDA has approved its first GMO flu vaccine with genetically modified proteins from insect cells and dog kidney cells.  In November of 2012, the FDA approved a new flu vaccine grown in dog kidney cells rather than chicken eggs. Early trials may have already begun.
In Europe the Swine Flu vaccine was linked to about 800 cases of narcolepsy as reported by Reuters. The blame has been an adjuvant (booster) designed to increase the ‘potency’ of the vaccine, which is another way of saying its immunotoxicity, i.e. like kicking a beehive to drive antibody titers higher. Flu officials suggest that the key to better controlling the spread of flu is by producing an entirely new generation of vaccines.
Many people are content to consume and/or immerse themselves with new technologies, playing bigger better games, and being in constant entertainment and distraction [See: Do You Have Facebook Affective Disorder?].  The price that is paid is becoming a victim of the socialized trance with impaired critical thinking. Today is the time to study, to learn outside the box of chattering controlled media to see what is going on. Flu shots are often controversial, yet the media is suggesting different. As new ones get developed, where are the long term studies, unless 6 weeks is the new normal for ‘long term’?
With more than 5 babies being born every second, the health of our species is at risk. Think about this: should everything be engineered? At what point in the near future will your children, pets, and you, be prevented from being, ‘in the wild’? Are we not moving towards a certain transhumanism with the new vaccine agenda?
http://intellihub.com/2013/03/24/future-flu-shots-made-from-dog-and-insect-cells/

Senate Explores Private and Law Enforcement Use of Drones in U.S.

By Noel Brinkerhoff
All Gov
March 24, 2013
It may not be long before drones become a common sight over the skies of the United States, which from a legal and privacy standpoint is far from ready, a congressional panel was told this week.
Experts appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to offer their perspectives on what it will mean for Americans once drones or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) become the norm domestically.
Unlike the large, missile-laden drones used by the military, UAVs of much smaller size are already available to almost anyone—from law enforcement to criminals to the media.
A major concern raised during the hearing was the use of drones to spy on individuals, who may have little recourse to stop or punish those behind unwanted snooping unless new laws are adopted.
The Fourth Amendment does protect against unauthorized surveillance or searches, and there are laws on the books that address spying by companies, for instance. But these legal protections were crafted long before drones came into existence, which could mean lots of gray area in the law.
“There’s very little in American privacy law that would limit the use of drones for surveillance,” Ryan Calo, an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Law, told the committee. “Drones drive down the cost of surveillance considerably. We worry that the incidence of surveillance will go up.”
Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said, “Just because the government may comply with the Constitution does not mean they should be able to constantly surveil, like Big Brother.”
http://intellihub.com/2013/03/24/senate-explores-private-and-law-enforcement-use-of-drones-in-u-s/

Bloomberg vs. the NRA

Bloomberg vs. the NRA

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Jean

I publish this only as a measure of the increasing sickness we are seeing. How much worse can it get? I remember Drunvalo saying that it will look like there is no way forward, and then magically the way will open. Are we there yet? I think we are very, very close. ~J

By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News | The Lookout – 9 hrs ago 

LaPierre, Bloomberg (Getty Images)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre squared off on Sunday’s “Meet The Press” over the assault weapons ban being debated in Congress.
“I don’t think there’s ever been an issue where the public has spoken so clearly, where Congress hasn’t eventually understood and done the right thing,” Bloomberg, who has become one of the most vocal gun control advocates in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings, said in a taped interview with NBC’s David Gregory.
“We are going to have a vote for sure on assault weapons and we’re going to have a vote on background checks,” Bloomberg continued. “And if we were to get background checks only, it wouldn’t be as good as if we got both, but we demanded a plan and then we demanded a vote. We’ve got the plan, we’re going to get the vote. And now it’s incumbent on us to make our voices heard.”
To do so, the billionaire mayor said he’s spending $12 million on an advertising campaign—set to launch in 10 states on Monday—that touts tighter gun laws.
“I think I have a responsibility, and I think you and all of your viewers have responsibilities, to try to make this country safer for our families and for each other,” he said. “And if I can do that by spending some money and taking the NRA from being the only voice to being one of the voices, so the public can really understand the issues, then I think my money would be well spent, and I think I have an obligation to do that.”
LaPierre says Bloomberg would be better off spending his money elsewhere.
“He’s going to find out this is a country of the people, by the people and for the people,” LaPierre told Gregory. “And he can’t spend enough of his $27 billion to try to impose his will on the American public. They don’t want him in their restaurants, they don’t want him in their homes. They don’t want him telling them what food to eat; they sure don’t want him telling them what self-defense firearms to own. And he can’t buy America.”

[Related: NRA's LaPierre slams critics of school gun plan]

The NRA chief criticized the gun control legislation currently on Capitol Hill, calling the proposed universal background checks a “speed bump” for law-abiding gun owners.
“The whole thing, universal checks, is a dishonest premise. There’s not a bill on the Hill that provides a universal check. Criminals aren’t going to be checked,” LaPierre said. “The mental health records are not in the system, and they don’t prosecute any of the criminals that they catch. … It slows down the law abiding and does nothing to anybody else.”

LaPierre then reiterated the NRA’s post-Newtown plea for armed security officers in every American public school. “Not a mom or dad wants to drop their kid off at school and leave their kids unprotected.”

https://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/bloomberg-vs-the-nra/

RT: US Sec. of State tells Iraq to close airspace for Iranian planes ‘with Assad aid’

RT: US Sec. of State tells Iraq to close airspace for Iranian planes ‘with Assad aid’

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Jean

Published time: March 24, 2013 19:31

Iraq shouldn’t allow Iran to use its airspace to provide aid to the Syrian government, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, warned during his unannounced visit to Baghdad.
“I made it very clear that for those of us, who are engaged in an effort to see President Assad step down… anything that supports President Assad is problematic,” Kerry said after holding private talks with Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki.
The Secretary of State added that the silent approval of the Iranian overflights by the Iraqi authorities has left the American people “wondering how it is a partner”.
Washington believes that, despite claims that it’s only humanitarian aid, Iran is sending arms and fighters to help Assad in his war against the US-backed National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.
AP is citing an unnamed US official, who said that such flights occur “close to daily”, undermining American efforts to support the rebels.
The flights have long been an issue in the relationship between Washington and Baghdad. In 2012, previous Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, received a promise from Iraq to check the Iranian flights last year, but since then only two aircraft have been inspected.
Kerry’s comments came after a group of senators sent a letter to President Barack Obama last week, urging him to step up US military efforts in Syria, including destroying Assad’s aircraft using precision airstrikes.
Editor of Politics First magazine, Marcus Papadopolous, told RT that it’s “very difficult to tell” whether Iran is providing military support to Assad or not.
But he finds Kerry’s criticism of Iraq’s negligence towards overflights “hypocritical” as there are some other US partners, who made a lot greater contribution to fueling the Syrian conflict.

“It’s ironic given that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who are America’s strategic allies, have been the ones responsible for the bloodshed in Syria through their support for Syrian militants in the form of weapons, cash and Islamist fighters.. And they are the ones, who have blood on their hands and they should be in the International Criminal Court,” Papadopolous stressed.
The civil war has been raging in Syria for over two years, with 70,000 already killed according to UN figures, as Assad and the opposition refuse to sit together at the negotiation table.
http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/rt-us-sec-of-state-tells-iraq-to-close-airspace-for-iranian-planes-with-assad-aid/

RT: End of Israel’s ‘Great Communicator’? Netanyahu forced into unlikely coalition

RT: End of Israel’s ‘Great Communicator’? Netanyahu forced into unlikely coalition

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Jean

Published on Mar 24, 2013

After weeks of bargaining, Israel has formed a ruling coalition including two powerful newcomers and, in a surprise move, excluding ultra-Orthodox parties. Benjamin Netanyahu might have performed role of Israel’s ‘Great Communicator’, but as he enters his third term of office, like his audience, his powers of persuasion are shrinking. RT’s Paula Slier explains.

http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/rt-end-of-israels-great-communicator-netanyahu-forced-into-unlikely-coalition/