We had a blast this weekend, celebrating our youngest daughter’s birthday. She really enjoyed the Tibetan singing bowl, and rainbow-filled clear quartz crystal ball I was led to gift her! Yeah, my kids are just as in tune with the magic of this world, as I am and I totally love that!
I am sure you want to get a start on your blessed day, so grab that cup of coffee, and let’s get right to the news!
We begin with a look at the call for independence and problem solving around the world, and then we bounce around from there.
A call for independence from Spain by the people of Catalonia.
The beautiful city of Barcelona, is the center of the Catalonia region of Spain. The people of Catalonia, who’s prosperous economy put’s their per head output at 17% above the European Union average, while the remainder of Spain is 5% below the average, wish to have autonomy from Spain. Political wrangling canceled a referendum for November 9, 2014, in favor of more discussion, but the leaders of a majority political party, are calling for an immediate vote to let the voice of the people be known. Pro-independence rallies have been well attended in Barcelona.
Catalonia Protesters Demand De Facto Independence Vote by Esteban Duarte on Bloomberg News
Occupy London begins a week of protests in Parliament Square.
Occupy London, a protest group which is focusing on issues with National Health, poverty and inequality in the UK, has brought their tents to set up an Occupy City in London’s Parliament Square. The very fact that they are setting up tents is already an issue with Parliament, as the square has bylaws that forbid any structures or sleeping accommodations being set up. The group plans to remain in the square until October 26, to show support for the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong, bring light to their agenda, stress their desire to start solving problems, and giving more political power to each individual.
In a follow-up piece, London police moved in to the Occupy London protest area on Sunday night to clear the protestors, as sleeping in the square became illegal after the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. Over 50 protestors where forcibly removed when they resisted, after the tarpaulins they were sitting on were deemed to be “structures.” There has also been much coverage of the situation on social media around the world.
Police move to clear Occupy protesters from Parliament Square by Chris Johnston for the Guardian
Talks are finally being rescheduled after clashes with Police in Hong Kong’s Occupy Central protests.
Social media is a marvelous thing, as images and information can be shared across the world. While some of the images may be disturbing, the simple knowledge of the fact that these things are released to the world, by governments and companies, sometimes creates a shift in a positive direction. While talks with Pro-Democracy leaders were canceled early on, in the nearly 3-week long protests, a shift occurred when images of violence by police against the generally peaceful protestors were plastered all over the internet. Talks are now scheduled to begin this week, but even with the talks, protests continue and the police continue to try and clear the protest barricades, which are blocking the streets and inhibiting the daily work lives of the citizens of Hong Kong.
Moving on…
Catholic Bishops nix welcome to gays in church document after conservative uproar.
Previously, we discussed that Catholic bishops, in a recent synod, that included discussion on homosexuality, had urged the church to reach out to those in the Gay community, as having gifts and blessings that could enrich the church. The outcry from conservative church groups and some sectors of the church, was so strong that the Bishops have rescinded their statements. The synod document received over 400 amendments, which had to be voted on, and even a watered down statement, with a more welcoming tone towards gays did not pass. The document also continues to impose bans on communion for divorced or civilly remarried Catholics, but softens its stance on birth control, saying that the church must respect Catholics in their moral evaluation of “methods used to regulate births.” Forays into a more modern, loving and accepting attitude seem to be silenced by conservatism at the moment, but at least the discussion came up in the first place, which I view as a very positive step for the two thousand year old institution.
Russell Brand, celebrity leader of the “Trews” movement, almost arrested in front of Fox News Studio.
Russell Brand, who has nothing to hide, because he has shared all the details of his rather tumultuous life, for all the world to see in his 2007 autobiography My Booky Wook, has started a “Trews” movement on Youtube, where he shares daily musings on news articles with subscribers. He has also just published another book called Revolution, and he is unabashedly using his celebrity and comedy to get regular folks to question their beliefs. Brand has serious issues with what he sees as Fox News’ bias against Islam, and he has used his social media platform to call them out. He set up a meeting with Sean Hannity, a conservative news reporter for the network, but it was cancelled. So Brand showed up at Fox News headquarters in New York and began filming a Trews edition. He was asked to leave by security and threatened with arrest, even though he was standing outside the building, which he was told was private property.
Russell Brand kicked out of Fox News HQ after canceled Sean Hannity appearance on RT News
A teenager creates an Alzheimer’s tracking device to help his grandfather.
This story actually came from my dad. Wandering away, and not knowing how to return home, is one of the biggest physical risks involved with Alzheimer’s patients. Young Kenneth Shinozuka’s grandfather suffers from the disease, and the police once found him on the freeway in the middle of the night. Ken decided to design a tracking system, that would alarm caregivers when a patient had wandered away. He put the sensor into a sock, so it would be less obtrusive for patients. The design has been beta tested, at a local assisted living center with no false alarms. Ken received a $50,000 scholarship, and the “Science in Action” award from Scientific American Magazine. It is wonderful to see young people addressing a problem, and figuring out a sleek solution! Congratulations, Ken!
Teen Invents Sensor to Help Alzheimer’s Patients by Chiara Sottile on NBC News
That’s the news for today! I also wanted to thank those who have contacted me, about the news roundup and especially the Feel Good News. That my service, to share more positive news, has helped your own attitude to brighten, simply brings joy to my heart.
I hope you will all join me daily in sending out love and light, to all the people who are a part of the international family of Golden Age of Gaia readers. We are all here to make stronger connections and to support each other, and it makes me so happy to know that you all support me. You can always reach me with news tips or comments on the GAOG Contact Us form.
Here’s to a super week, and come back to join me for more news tomorrow!
Be Well. Be Joy. Be Love!
Alex