Mato's Blog

Feline news:
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/chechen-leader-kadyrov-has-lost-his-cat/569667.html Kadyrov should have taken a cat from the animal asylum. A Toyger costs 1,500 US$ and it could be that somebody abducted the cat to sell it. Unlikely now with the public announcement, which could even endanger the cats life, if there was indeed criminal intent.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hills-pet-nutrition-recalls-cat-7955254
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/new-york-pawing-cat-declawing-ban-article-1.2640282
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/animal/after-taking-title-from-oregon-feline-worlds-oldest-cat-dies/193039926
http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2016/05/17/pumpkin-the-shelter-cat-befriends-rat/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/stubborn-cat-takes-firemen-hilarious-7952282 Most rescue attempts are completely unnecessary, as cats usually after some time free themselves or find a way to climb down safely. I’ve fetched cats from trees and rooftops and I’ve talked with afraid cats to calm them, but most times I simply let them figure out how to get down by themselves.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up his new friend, a little kitten, at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, UK. The kitten is a gift from Assange’s children to keep him company.”

Environmental news:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/04/29/fine-particle-pollution-linked-to-wider-number-of-cancers-premature-births/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/02/armed-guards-at-indias-dams-as-drought-grips-country
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/may/05/animals-die-cambodia-worst-drought-decades
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/05/03/world-bank-the-way-climate-change-is-really-going-to-hurt-us-is-through-water/
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/27/toxic-range-the-blms-growing-chemical-addiction/
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/ecological-bankruptcy/blog/56362/
http://lifeonleft.blogspot.com/2016/05/alberta-wildfires-pachamamas-revenge.html Another kind of “blowback.”
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/10/one-in-five-of-worlds-plant-species-at-risk-of-extinction
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/quest_to_save_amphibians_climate_change_cascades_drought/2993/ The frogs and toads in my garden fortunately are fine still.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/05/12/who-global-air-pollution-is-worsening-and-poor-countries-are-being-hit-the-hardest/ Population control by smog.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/pesticides-gmos-and-corporate-control-the-poster-child-is-monsanto-but-neil-young-is-the-main-act/5524709
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/sites/default/files/ib_1605_nrcinfluence-final-web_0.pdf
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2987690/no_the_un_has_not_given_glyphosate_a_clean_bill_of_health.html
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/17/unwho-panel-in-conflict-of-interest-row-over-glyphosates-cancer-risk Common sense alone makes it clear, that a chemical substance which even kills the toughest weeds cannot be healthy for humans and our fellow animals (like bees, butterflies, birds). But common sense, along with foresight, caution, and conscientiousness, has been lost in the relentless chase for higher profits.
Genetically modified crops can survive glyphosate of course (this is the basis of Monsanto’s game), but humans and bees are not genetically modified yet.

Economic news:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ttip-leaks-shocking-what-are-they-eu-us-deal-a7010121.html
https://ellenbrown.com/2016/05/14/print-the-money-trumps-reckless-proposal-echoes-franklin-and-lincoln/ Printing money to pay the 19 trillion US$ debt sounds reasonable, but printing money means more spending, means more industrial activities and more wars, means more environmental destruction and human suffering. Considering this, austerity and budget cuts (especially for the military) seem to be the better option.
Financial expert Richard Duncan: “The combination of fiat money and Globalization creates a unique moment in history where the governments of the developed economies can print money on an aggressive scale without causing inflation.”
Fiat money is not backed by gold or other material assets. Globalization means cheap sweatshop (slave) labor and cheap commodities, extracted with the help of corrupt national leaders in countries who have opened their market (or were forced to open them) for the empire.
Printing money is the solution to keep things going for a little while longer until natural disasters, wars, or pandemics finally end the party.

Imperial news:
https://morecrows.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/unnecessariat/ Its about the unsuccessful or unemployable, the misfits and losers, the unneeded and unwanted. This was an issue in all societies throughout history (though overlooked or ignored by most historians), but competition, specialization, mechanization in industrial societies exacerbated the problem.
Who cares about the ones who couldn’t find their niche in the job market? Who gives a damn about the ones who never will fulfill the requirements, who are not bright, strong, and mental stable enough or don’t abide, concede, buckle?
In former times this people became farmhands, servants, cleaners, or they were put into a monastery, or recruited into the army. Today in affluent Western nations they are sedated with TV or computer gaming, in less affluent nations (or in minority ghettos) they get an AK47 or a suicide vest and are sent to Syria or to some other country which needs to be destroyed for the greater good of the empire.
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/05/inequality-kills-top-1-lives-15-years-longer-than-the-poorest.html
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/277269-a-nation-over-troubled-water
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/05/credentialism-and-corruption-neoliberalism-in-the-news-room.html
http://boingboing.net/2016/05/09/american-toddlers-have-shot-23.html One cannot start early enough!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/05/13/bids-george-zimmerman-gun-auction-top-50m/84319096/

Imperial conquest news:
http://petras.lahaine.org/?p=2082 A bit theoretical, but a very useful summary.
http://warontherocks.com/2016/05/how-al-qaeda-is-winning-in-syria/
http://www.syrianews.cc/guide-understanding-unhospitals-cannot-bombed/
https://uprootedpalestinians.wordpress.com/2016/05/02/us-trained-mercenaries-in-yemen/
https://mideastshuffle.com/2016/05/03/us-presidential-elections-a-view-from-the-middle-east/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36211449
https://uprootedpalestinians.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/the-usas-nato-edges-closer-to-giving-israel-membership-can-you-imagine-the-consequences-of-that/
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/panama-papers-data-leak-king-saudi-arabia-sponsored-netanyahus-campaign/
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/05/turkey-democracy-erdogan-davutoglu-washington-akp.html
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/343310-merkel-erdogan-migrants-crisis-turkey/
http://journal-neo.org/2016/05/06/syria-isis-and-the-us-uk-propaganda-war/
http://www.workers.org/2016/05/12/new-philippines-president-to-face-big-challenges/ A significantly different view about the new Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, who is mercilessly slandered and maligned by Western media. Wondering, why Duterte is disliked by Western journalists? Just read the article.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/brazils-neoliberal-left-business-accommodation-and-social-debacle/5523488
http://journal-neo.org/2016/05/12/the-usa-how-to-make-them-give-a-damn/ US war preparations gather pace.

Unclassified news:
http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.co.at/2016/04/where-on-titanic-would-you-like-your.html
http://thesaker.is/russia-gets-a-much-deserved-slap-in-the-face-saker-rant/ That’s a good one! Entertaining and pointed.

Annotations

I only reluctantly switch on the computer every second or third day to read the mailed headlines of various news organizations and blogs. Sometimes, though not too often, I also read selected articles and blog posts.

Most news are depressing, disheartening, discouraging. When I’m through with the emails I’m always too tired to write anything myself.

I cannot really comprehend how people in a war zone like Syria feel and how they can stay sane while their life is constantly threatened and bomb blasts have become part of daily life. Many see their livelihood destroyed, many lose close relatives and friends, many witness unspeakable savagery, torture, rape, and mass slaughter, many are injured and become disabled for the rest of their lives.

How can one stand this horror and what must the mental state be after going through this nightmare? Will the victims of war ever be able to sleep peacefully, be at ease and enjoy life, smile and laugh? Will they ever be happy?

Or will they wake up in the middle of the night, confused and frightened? Will they be constantly haunted by the pictures and sounds of war? Will they be ill tempered, prone to addiction, depressed or even suicidal?

Will they ever be able to lead a harmonious and peaceful life, being a respected and loved member of their community? Will there be even a community and a social contract, will there be hopes, goals, visions which all members wholeheartedly share?

Or will there be, like in Libya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen anarchy in a hellscape of ruins, wasteland, desert?

Wars are costly, painful, unnecessary, insane. Why are wars fought and who is to blame for the waste and ruin, the pain and suffering, the destruction of nature?

It has been stated many times by many people, including me, that the monstrous sociopaths, the cynical criminals which are in charge of the world, have recruited their fellow sociopaths and criminals to destroy the nations which don’t hand over their natural riches, surrender to the imperial dictate, become obedient vassals.

I cannot describe how I despise and abhor this people, which call themselves “leaders of the free world.” I should stand up and fight, but I’m powerless, unimportant, I’m just an average guy with some life experience, common sense, and critical judgement. There’s not much I can do, except living my life untainted, uncorrupted to give a positive example, and raise my tiny voice to bolster the choir of dissent.

So I write this text.

When I switch off the computer and go out into the garden or make a walk in the adjacent forest I’m in a different world. The leaves are gently whispering, birds are twiddling, bumblebees are humming. This is my world and I love it so much, it is paradise.

The vegetation in the forest has changed due to global warming and industrial agriculture. Invasive grass species have covered clearings, thorny shrubs are advancing, pine, fir, and spruce are gradually replaced by deciduous trees. The boreal forests which I remember so fondly from my youth will be gone soon. Many animal species are in decline, especially bats, hedgehogs, and amphibians.

Nature overall seems to be able to adapt. Wide areas of the forest are left alone and there are secret places of astonishing beauty where I just pause, watch, listen, and wonder. The hedgehogs, frogs, and toads have found a refuge in my garden, bumblebees and butterflies are flying from bloom to bloom, a turtle dove couple has built their nest in the big pine tree, occasionally coming down to take a nip of water from the little pond below the tree. The little ponds are populated with frogs, newts, water striders, backswimmers, and probably many other animals which I will never see because they are very shy and cautious.

And yet, nature is cruel and merciless too. Most animals are eaten alive or die in agony and pain, when they are old and sick. Many freeze to death in winter. I have to disclose that I’m a ruthless mass murderer: Early in the morning I go up and kill all the slugs I can find. My feline friends are not better, they love to kill mice and occasionally birds.

Well, the first of the Four Noble Truth of Buddhism says: “Life is suffering,” and this applies to all places and all ages. If I accept this as a fact, what’s the difference between my peace zone and the war zones of the world?

The difference is, that the natural world, and the community of my peace zone regenerates and perpetuates itself, and that it could go on like this for centuries or even millennia, while the natural world and the communities of the war zones fall apart, descend into chaos, make in the course of a few years the land uninhabitable.

Enough said.

This is only a rough and adumbrated exploration of the issue and there have been many books written about this. If I have time I will collect a list of book titles. For the start any kind of anti-war literature will do. For instance: Ernest Hemmingway: For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat’s Cradle, Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front, Joseph Heller: Catch-22, Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace, Vera Brittain: Testament of Youth, Jaroslav Hasek: The Good Soldier Svejk, Harold Pinter: War.

But who has time to read books today?

The cats are fine and they are as enchanted by nature as I am. They love the forest and spend a lot of time there.