₦airaland Forum

No More Hocus Pocus: What It’s Like to Be a Witch in New York City


You thought they didn't exist, but Starr Ravenhawk says she's one of 1,000 NYC witches.

By Charlotte Alter @charlottealter Oct. 29, 2013

"Just in time for Halloween I had the pleasure of speaking with Starr Ravenhawk, an Elder witch who runs the Wiccan Family Temple Academy of Pagan Studies, a New York City witch school. Here, she sets the record straight on cauldrons, pointy hats and why witches get a bad rap.

Q: Is there any aspect to the witch myth that has some degree of truth to it?

Oh definitely, we love our cauldrons, I’m sorry, we do. In olden times they used it for cooking regular food as well as cooking up their spells. But today we use it strictly for spellwork.
But cauldrons are hard to take care of, cause they’re very strong and heavy and you have to grease it so it doesn’t rust and stuff, so we don’t use it for regular food anymore. And we’re modern day witches, so we’ve got regular pots and stuff.

Q: What about the hat?

The pointed hat? That was more based on energy. They have it on the dollar bill, the cone, it’s like a triangle, and the pointon the top is supposed to be energy. That’s all the witch’s hat is supposed to be, a cone of energy bringing down to the individual.

Q: And the broom?

I know people think we flyon brooms, I wish we did.I would love to flyby broom anywhereI want. It came from a time when people used herbs for different types of things, and some herbs do make people feel like they’re flying.There are a lot of psychedelic herbs that are not chemically based but strictly an herb that will do that. And if they use that and they’re jumping around in a circle they could imagine many a thing, that doesn’t mean that they’re actually flying.That would be absolutely awesome, I’d love to do that.

Q: Are there any depictions of witches that you like?

I like all of it, except the one about us being like gross witches with warts on our faces. I mean, get real. I look just like anybody else, but there are [witches] who are not as pretty to the eye, maybe. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it depends. But there are some of us that are beautiful inside and out. So it depends. But that is definitely a misnomer. I don’t think we’re ugly.

Q: Why do witches get a bad rap?

I would consider Christians very smart, because the only way to conquer someone is to make them believe what they’re doing is wrong. And essentially that’s what they did for many centuries. They basically convinced the world that what they’ve been doing forall these centuries is wrong.

And if you look at the movies, witches are bad. It’s only recently, with Charmed and all these things, that a lot of it has been coming to life, and a lot of people have been like, “okay, here are whatour misconceptions are on this.”

Q: What is the purpose of the Wiccan Family Temple Academy ofPagan Studies school?

The school was made not necessarily for the public, it was made for us. It’s for people who are out there saying, you know what, this is my religion, I would love to learn more about it, I don’t know enough and I wantto learn it.
Years ago there wasn’t anywhere in New York that was teaching witchcraft. People were teaching it in their covens, but people tend to keep their covens secret so you wouldn’t know about it.

Q: How many witches would you estimate are inNewYork City?

You could be standing next to many in your office, and you would not know, because a lot of them are keeping it secret because of theirjobs. They’re judges and lawyers and they’re everywhere. It doesn’t mean they’re gonna let you know because again, a lot of them are afraid of losing their jobs. So, when it comes to their financial livelihood, they won’t announce it to the world but to themselves and theirgroups of people they know they can be honest about who they are. But if you go according to meet up, and a lot of other places where we have a large group of people, I would say maybe 1,000."

Abducted medical doctor escapes from kidnappers’ den in Delta
on october 28, 2013 at 3:13 pm in news
BY FESTUS AHON
UGHELLI-THE fragile peace being enjoyed by Ughelli residents, was Sunday night threatened,
following the kidnap of the proprietor of Shekina Medical Centre, Dr Richard Kofi by gunmen.
Meanwhile, Dr Richard Kofi in the early hours of yesterday escaped from his kidnappers den
after a serious fight with one of the kidnappers who was keeping eyes on him in the hideout.
The gunmen numbering over six, according to sources intercepted their victim as he was
driving into his hospital premises at about 7:30pm, adding that he was whisked away by the
gunmen before they could realize what was happening.
The source, who pleaded anonymity said security operatives were immediately alerted, adding
that; “the police, soldiers and men of the Ughelli vigilante group swung into action immediately.
“They were still trailing him when suddenly we heard of his escape from the clutches of his
kidnappers.” Narrating his ordeal, Dr Richard Kofi said; “I was driving to the hospital at about
7:30pm when I noticed a car behind me close to Oharisi Primary School but I dint take it
serious.
“I was approaching the hospital gate when suddenly the car that was following me behind
intercepted me; behold! The four doors opened and the guys came out heavily armed. I am
sure they came with two cars because other guys came out from nowhere.
“They quickly forced me into the back seat of my car after ordering me from the driver’s seat
and zoomed off. I was blindfolded and taken into the bush. Two of the boys were asked to
keep eyes on me in the bush and I told them ‘I be bad market o! I no get money o!’
“As luck would have it at about 7am, one of the boys left this morning leaving one behind; so I
pleaded with him to allow me escape but he dint listen. At a point, I picked up courage and
fought him. But as I made way to escape after hitting him hard, I dint know he was equipped
with a cutlass, so he gave me a cut on my head.
“On sighting my blood, I picked a stick close to me and used it on him and he decided to run
so I chased him to a point and find my way out of the bush. By the time I came out on the
road, I saw welcome to Oviri-olomu it was only then I knew where I was.
“I was there when security operatives who were searching for me came and brought me to
the hospital for treatment.” Confirming the incident, the Area Commander, Ughelli Area
Command, Mr Awosola Awotunde said; “we have recovered the car in Warri and 10 persons
have been arrested in connection with the kidnap.
“The police is carrying out thorough investigation into the matter. I can assure you the culprits
will be brought to book. We are not leaving any stone unturned in curbing criminal activities in
the area. You know, Christmas is coming and the boys are looking for money; we will show
them. Ughelli and its environs is not a safe haven for hoodlums.”

With having to use 3 different power generators and a scare if any of them is malfunctioning, I will rate PHCN anything less than 0, if available. I almost never, enjoy any service anytime from 6pm and over half of the month, no electricity during the daytime too. Yet, I live in a fully developed estate in a high brow area in town. PHCN officials believe that we deserve none of their kindness.

As far as I'm concerned, PHCN is a 'one chance' establishment.

If it was in those days of Old Testament when God instantly judged those offering strange fire at the Temple, I wonder how many of them would return safely to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, another story posted by Hope for Nigeria on FB confirms that
the 4 Limousines parked at NAMA compound belong to Overland as
claimed by NAMA Officials.
**Nigerian social media reported last week that they belong to aviation
minister.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said on Wednesday
that the four limousines parked at the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria
site at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, belonged to a non-scheduled
airline operator, Overland Airways.
A senior official of NAMA told our correspondent that the cars had nothing
to do with the airspace management agency.
The official, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised
to speak on the subject, said that the Ministry of Aviation was not the
owners of the luxury vehicles.
An online medium, Sahara Reporters, had reported on Monday that NAMA
purchased four Toyota Tundra and four stretch limousine vehicles for the
embattled aviation minister, Stella Oduah.
It said the vehicles were in addition to the two armoured cars purchased
for Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority at an allegedly inflated
cost of N255m, a development that had sparked public outrage.
But the source at the airspace agency said, “NAMA has nothing to do with
those vehicles. They are owned by a concessionaire who also is an owner
of a chartered airline. The cars are used for conveying VIPs by Overland
Airways. You may confirm from them.”
The NAMA official described the report as false, stressing that the cars
were used to transport passengers that patronised the carrier’s services.
The source said, “The cars are owned by a private operator who was given
concessions to move VIPs to different locations, and for emphasis this is
what is on ground. The cars are not owned by NAMA.
The spokesperson for NAMA, Mr. Supo Atobatele, in a statement had
described the reports that the agency owned the luxury vehicles as
“frivolous, malicious and mischievous.”
He said, “We hereby make it categorically clear to the unsuspecting public
that this evil story, as being promoted is patently false in its entirety and is
calculated to put the agencyand the office of the minister into disrepute.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said Limousines belong to a
concessionaire who is running a VIP shuttle service for non-scheduled
operators.”
The emerging questions now are, 'Who owns Overland?' And 'Who
purchased the limos?' 'What is the stake of the Honourable Minister in the
concessioneering?'

Published on October 24, 2013 at 7:10 am in news
By ENYIM ENYIM


ABUJA—Embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who is facing separate probe panels set up by President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the National Assembly over the purchase of N255 million armoured cars has written the president to explain her side of the story.
The President on Tuesday issued query to her to explain her role in the purchase of the armoured cars.
In her response which Vanguard obtained exclusively, the minister said procurement of the cars followed due process and was provided for in the NCAA 2013 budget.
Defence
In her defence titled: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NCAA OPERATIONAL VEHICLES, she wrote: “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is the statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Industry.
Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah
Consequently, the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.
2. Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment.
3.In the 2013 budgetary appropriation, provision was made for the procurement of specialised equipment (including operational vehicles) to complement and in some cases replace obsolete ones.
Furthermore, the fact that NCAA, as the regulator of the industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC BAGASO, CANSO, ACI and a host of others makes it necessary to have specialised operational vehicles.
4.With regard to the procurement of additional operational vehicles (including BMW Security Vehicles), the following due process was observed:
(I) By letter dated April 15, 2013, NCAA officially requested authorisation from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to procure 56 operational vehicles through lease financing. This option was proposed to the ministry to enable the NCAA make 36 monthly payments based on receipts from Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
Approval
The Ministry therefore granted due approval.
(ii)Based on the ministry’s approval, the NCAA invited Expressions of Interest from all Banks in Nigeria for the financing of the said vehicles. EOI was adopted because the procurement is two sided. First, the financier would have to be selected before the supplier is determined. This is in line with procurement best practices.
(iii) On May 24, 2013, the response received from the various banks to the Expression of Interest, EOI, request was opened publicly and minutes of the opening exercise was duly documented. During the EOI opening exercise, NCAA got commendation from one of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, approved by BPP who were invited for the opening exercise.
(iv) The evaluation of the expression of interests was held on May 31, 2013 during which First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC emerged most responsive. On the June 10, 2013 the above three banks were invited to submit Financial Proposals. Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest rated responsive bidder.
(v)Between June 20 and 25, 2013, invoices were received from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW Security Vehicles.
Tenders Board
(vi) On June 28, 2013, NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved the selection of First Bank Ltd for the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. All necessary approvals were duly sought and obtained accordingly.
(vii) Between July 8, 2013 to August, 12, 2013 various meetings were held with First Bank Ltd, contract agreement was signed and necessary documentation executed.
Your Excellency is respectfully invited to note:
(i) The crucial statutory role of the NCAA in regulating civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
(ii) The need for NCAA to be fully equipped with highly specialized tools and facilities (including operational vehicles) to enable the effective implementation of its statutory functions.
(iii) The procurement of specialized operational vehicles is duly provided for in the NCAA 2p 13 (IGR) Budget and the need for adopting instalmental lease payments over36rionths.
(iii) That Due Process was followed in the procurement of the said operational vehicles.
Please your Excellency my continued loyally and esteemed regards.
Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, OON, Honourable Minister.



Meanwhile, another story posted by Hope for Nigeria on FB confirms that the 4 Limousines parked at NAMA compound belong to Overland as claimed by NAMA Officials.

**Nigerian social media reported last week that they belong to aviation minister.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said on Wednesday that the four limousines parked at the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria site at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, belonged to a non-scheduled airline operator, Overland Airways.
A senior official of NAMA told our correspondent that the cars had nothing to do with the airspace management agency.
The official, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the subject, said that the Ministry of Aviation was not the owners of the luxury vehicles.
An online medium, Sahara Reporters, had reported on Monday that NAMA purchased four Toyota Tundra and four stretch limousine vehicles for the embattled aviation minister, Stella Oduah.
It said the vehicles were in addition to the two armoured cars purchased for Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority at an allegedly inflated cost of N255m, a development that had sparked public outrage.
But the source at the airspace agency said, “NAMA has nothing to do with those vehicles. They are owned by a concessionaire who also is an owner of a chartered airline. The cars are used for conveying VIPs by Overland Airways. You may confirm from them.”
The NAMA official described the report as false, stressing that the cars were used to transport passengers that patronised the carrier’s services.
The source said, “The cars are owned by a private operator who was given concessions to move VIPs to different locations, and for emphasis this is what is on ground. The cars are not owned by NAMA.
The spokesperson for NAMA, Mr. Supo Atobatele, in a statement had described the reports that the agency owned the luxury vehicles as “frivolous, malicious and mischievous.”
He said, “We hereby make it categorically clear to the unsuspecting public that this evil story, as being promoted is patently false in its entirety and is calculated to put the agencyand the office of the minister into disrepute.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said Limousines belong to a concessionaire who is running a VIP shuttle service for non-scheduled operators.”

The emerging questions now are, 'Who owns Overland?' And 'Who purchased the limos?' 'What is the stake of the Honourable Minister in the concessioneering?'

Must we turn it into tribal wars? These Nigerian people always like ethnic bashing sha. Make I dey go my way jooo. A beg, who wan buy plantain?

"Buy plantain... plantain dey oooo... sweet plantain... buy ya plantain for chop dodo... Buy plantain..."

'I killed my mother to make money'

Story Reported by: Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Detectives attached to the Obosi Police Division in Anambra State have arrested a man, Tonna Enedo from the Umuezeshime royal family in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, for allegedly killing his mother.
Enedo spoke yesterday on why he killed his mother.

He blamed the incident on his quest to make money at all cost, adding that he was lured into a fraternity. He said he has slept in the mortuary for seven hours as part of the money-making rituals.

Tonna said: “I was asked by the chief priest of the society that if I wanted to be rich, I should go and have fun with a mad woman. I should also go and sleep with a body for seven hours; I should fast for seven days dry; I was told that I would first kill my father and the last stage is that I will go mad and after I might have completed all the condition, I will become the richest man in Africa, if not in the whole world.”

He said he met all other conditions and was planning to kill his father when he mistakenly killed his mother. He said it was after he hit a metal on her head that he realised he had killed the woman he loved most.

Tonna is a first-born from a divorced home. The parents divorced in 1984. He behaved like a mentally-challenged person in and around Obosi before the incident.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/killed-mother-make-money/

Where's the chap, Ted Cruz? Clint's coming for you, Yankee.

Grrrr!

igbo boy: If dem no sell you...yoroooba boys are too dull to survive in an igbo city. Your hustling gene no reach.

You are very right, you know. With Yoruba, hustling is not always life and death affair. Hardly would you find one who would be so desperate as to use his mother for money rituals.

Lagos boys have been practicing area boyism for almost half a century, and we never heard they killed someone for the sake of a few thousands of Naira settlement. But Chiemzie and Saturday were so desperate that they had to kill for stipends.

You said it correctly, Yoruba "hustling gene no reach".

Imagine, Igbo boys claiming to be "Area Boys" in Lagos!!!

I'm packing my load... next stop... Onitsha; to become top notch Area Boy.

We need to train up children in the way they should follow. Some of these girls are left by themselves to grow up in the streets. Others are spoilt by their parents.

Baba_Eleko: Wetin consign Naija pple with d relationship btw Obama and hin pple.

By now, we all know that when the U.S. sneezes, the whole world catches cold.

Protests turn out into a drunk party riots:

www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/10/13/3257033/hundreds-riot-on-high-street-in.html

"Police used pepper spray to dispersehundreds of drunk, bottle-throwing college students who rioted late Saturday, Oct. 12, north of Western Washington University.
Bellingham Police broke up a block party at an apartment complex near Jersey Streetaround 9:30 p.m., said Bellingham Police Lt. Mike Johnston. People leaving the partythrew beer bottlesand cans at officers, he said. Police called for backup.
A “parade of people” made its way to the intersection, drawing out college students from other parties in the area, said Sam Kaplan, a Western Washington University sophomore who lives near the sceneof the riot.
Glass bottles, dishes and cans were thrown at officers,police cruisers, and other rioters, Johnston said.
Officers in riot gear used pepper balls, smoke and flash-bangs to dispersethe crowd of 300 to 400 that refusedto leave the intersection, Johnston said.
It was not known exactly how much damage was done, or how many were injured, Johnston said. At least four arrestswere made during the riot.
Copious photos and videosof the incident have already been uploaded to the Internet."

Foxes now reporting:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2740298364001/wwii-vets-rally-in-washington-dc-against-slimdown/

NBC too:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Vets-Plan-Rally-at-World-War-II-Memorial-227574101.html


"News cameras located on the White House lawn are showing a large gathering of people outside the gates and fence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
It is believed these are protesters who started at the World War II Memorial early Saturday and moved from that location to the White House. According to NBC News, the president is in the White House.
Video shows people carrying barricades, presumably from the WW II memorial, to the White House fence. The DC Police Department said via Twitter that they are on the scene with the Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police.
Members of the Million Vet March were planning on gathering at the World War II Memorial on Sunday despite the memorial being closed due to the government shutdown, but that protest has taken a more political tone
According to a statement on the group’s website, they feel military personnel and veterans are “being used a political pawns in the ongoing government shutdown and budget crisis.” Organizers say they are not a political leaning group, but call the shutting down of memorials “a despicable act of cowardice.”
However, conservative political commentator Sarah Palin and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) arrived and spoke to the people gathered at the memorial.
News 4's Derrick Ward reported some truckers who have attempted to slow beltway traffic as a protest measure made their way down to the Tidal Basin area. Police have blocked off roads in an attempt to keep streets clear."

Symphony007: Idiotci conspirarcy theories. Those DC trucker could'nt even gather up to ten trucks. The organiser of the protest said he know obama is related to osame bin laden because of the similarity of their names, can you sense the raw stupidity?

Honestly, I agree with you. Most are probably 'skin head' adults who hate blacks. They can only growl at best, no bite. But let's keep on watching and see what happens.

2shade: U.S get ready for nuclear war...

I think it's more like civil protests by a few Americans, but the effect could be serious on traffic. But, well, they're trying to make their point as should be possible in any democracy.

But possibility of it leading to nuclear war? I don't yet think.

www.wusa9.com/news/article/278445/499/Trucks-continue-to-protest-on-Beltway-supporters-show-up

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Truckersprotesting the actions of President Obamaand Congresscontinue to slowly circle the Capital Beltway on Friday. They say they are fed up with what many of them consider an abuse of the Constitution.
WUSA9's Bruce Leshan traveled with the convoy for a while. At noon, he reported that he was traveling approximately 2 miles per hour, with the traffic almost completely stopped. It was unclear whether traffic was going so slowly due to the truckers,the rain or both.
Leshan started followingthe convoy around Springfield, and followed the trucks around onthe Inner Loop. At the time, they were crossing three lanes of traffic going 20 miles an hour, slowing down, and honking their horns, according to Leshan.
Their actions seemed to irritate some drivers but many driver seemed to know the group was going to be in town.
We were told originally that there may be some "counterprotestors," but a group of people on an overpasswere actually in support of the truckers and their protest.The people had posted signs in support of the effort,which you can see in the photo gallery: http://www.wusa9.com/news/photo-gallery.aspx?storyid=278454
What the group is going to do next is unclear. Some people said they were going to drive up Constitution Avenueand try to arrestsome members of Congress. Then other people said that's not true.
The group is talking about going for three days through the weekend, continuing to circle the Beltway.
EARLIER:
John Domen with WNEW reported that he saw the firstconvoy of trucks onthe Outer Loop at approximately 8 a.m. Only a few trucks were there, but organizersfor TruckersRide for the Constitution told WNEW that trucks would be "coming in waves."
Shortly before 9a.m. WNEW reported that a police officer pulled over a truck doing 10 mph in the left lane. The other trucks pulledover with that truck. Police say the truckers were warnednot to impede traffic but noticketswere issues.
As group continued to the Inner Loop just past the Mixing Bowl where WNEW tweeted a photo of the trucks:http:///ns10u876DM
Around 10:40 a.m., Domen reported the trucks were on the Beltway approaching I-66. He said he believed there could be as many as 20 to 25 trucks.
TRUCKERS RIDE FOR THE CONSTITUTION ON FACEBOOK: http:///186Fm4U
Virginia State Police reported that roughly 30 trucks leftthe Dumphries scale on I-95 at 7:00 a.m. The trucks were heading onnorthbound I-95 in the right lane with their hazards on, according to police. Police told us thatthe trucks had American flags, some without trailer, and may have #T2SDA signs for "Truckers to ShutDown America."
Police said an additional 15 pick-up trucks leftDoswell around 7 a.m. with flags and #T2SDA signage.
In a pressrelease, police gave an update:
"At about 8:50 a.m., four commercial vehicles began driving side-by-side across all four northbound lanes of I-495 on the Inner Loop slowing traffic to 15mph. Virginia State Police stopped the fourtractor-trailers at the 53 mile marker in Fairfax County and warned them not to impede traffic. No summons/ticket was issued. The tractor-trailers were then allowed to proceed on their way."
Organizers told WTVR on Thursday thattruck drivers planned to occupy three lanes of Interstate495, and only other drivers displaying the group's Twitterhashtag #T2SDA on their vehicles would be allowed to pass. Members of the group said the protest wouldbe peaceful and lawful.
WTVR visited the Doswell Truck Stop that was serving as one of the staging areas Thursday afternoonand said that before 6 p.m. nearly a dozen were parked there .
Tom Null, a Lafayette, Indiana trucker toldWTVR, "We're going to participate in the demonstrationaround the Beltway in D.C. We just want to let government know that we're tired of them doing un-Constitutional things constantly.We don't like the way the banking is going, with the Fed printing $85 billion every month, diluting our money. My tires are costing 500 bucksa piece now."
Some truckers acknowledged to WTVR theycould really shut down the countryif they all banded togetherand stopped making deliveries given the need for same-day delivers for grocery stores to gas stations,but they say it wouldn't be right.
"No," Alabama trucker Brad Higgins told WTVR, "We don't want to do anything that's going to hurt or cripple the country ."
Early Friday morning before trucks showed upin the DC area, TruckersRide For The Constitution wroteon its Facebook page : "We are in the processof bringing our site back up. WE CRASHED OUR SERVER DUE TO TOO MUCH TRAFFIC! They are doing an emergency migratration and we will be up and running within the next several hours."
The group is directing people to a live stream in the interim.
TRUCKERS RIDE FOR THE CONSTITUTION ON FACEBOOK: http:///186Fm4U

https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/10/11-4?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Published on Friday, October 11, 2013 by Common Dreams
"Second 'March Against Monsanto' Expected Saturday
Don't let the world 'be compromised by the destructive practices of
multinational corporations like Monsanto,' warn organizers
- Jacob Chamberlain, staff writer
A protester holds up a poster during first March Against Monsanto, May
25, 2013. (Reuters)
Thousands, if not millions, of people are expected to take to the streets
across the world on Saturday in the second "March Against Monsanto" to
protest the biotech giant.
Organizers say demonstrations have
been scheduled for Saturday,
October 12 in six continents, 52
countries and over 500 cities to call
for the permanent boycott of
genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) and harmful agro-chemicals.
A list of marches can be seen at
www.march-against-monsanto.com .
Last spring an estimated two million
people joined in over 436 cities in 52
countries during the first March
Against Monsanto , which was
originally only expected to draw
3,000.
MAM founder Tami Monroe Canal, who started the movement last May, has
stated , “Monsanto’s predatory business and corporate agricultural
practices threatens their generation’s health, fertility and longevity. MAM
supports a sustainable food production system. We must act now to stop
GMOs and harmful pesticides.”
Roberta Gogos, MAM organizer in Athens, Greece, said Monsanto has had a
drastic impact on austerity-hit Europe. “Monsanto is working very hard to
overturn EU regulation on obligatory labeling where enforcement is already
lax. Greece is in a precarious position right now, and Greece's farmers are
positioned to follow the same perilous fate as farmers in countries such as
Colombia and Mexico.”
Josh Castro, MAM organizer for Quito, Ecuador’s march stated :
Ecuador is such a beautiful place, with the richest biodiversity in the
world. We will not allow this Garden of Eden to be compromised by the
destructive practices of multinational corporations like Monsanto.
Biotechnology is not the solution to world hunger. Agroecology is.
Monsanto's harmful practices are causing soil infertility, mono-
cropping, loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, and contributing to
beehive collapse. GMO crops cross pollinate with traditional crops,
risking peasant farmers' livelihood.
Follow Twitter hashtags #MAM and #MarchOct12 and check back on
Common Dreams for news of the day as it unfolds.
Food justice expert activist Vandana Shiva spoke recently about the
problems with Monsanto and a need for a larger organic food movement
ahead of Saturday's march and in correlation with Shiva's "Food Freedom
Fornight" series of food justice actions."

https://m.facebook.com/ModernRevolution?refid=52&_ft_=qid.5934076475214562419%3Amf_story_key.-7236500320905297116

The protests in progress as reported by a Facebook page. More to come as events unfold. You can also follow the page continous news reporting and pictures by clicking on "see more" posts link at the bottom.

But there's an alternative report about the initial failure of the protests:

http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/10/25835-truckers-protest-against-obama-fizzles-only-dozens-show-up/

Ms. Conservative
October 11, 2013 1:44pm PST
"We have been reporting on the trucker’s
protest closely.
The truckers claimed that a massive group
would show up in DC today to protest Obama
and “his bulls**t.”
Unfortunately, the turnout there today has
been very underwhelming. Instead of
thousands of truckers showing up, only a few
dozen did. And instead of the trucks stopping
traffic in DC, rain stopped traffic."

Another jejune report report:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/va-state-police-trucker-protest-launched-on-i-95-north-vehicles-head-toward-beltway/2013/10/11/c8049b7e-3266-11e3-89ae-16e186e117d8_story.html

"Trucker protest hits Beltway but causes no major delays, authorities say.
Luis M. Alvarez/AP - A group of truckers travels on 1-95 towards I-495 in
Springfield, Va., on Friday.
By Dana Hedgpeth and Lori Aratani , E-mail the writers
Police authorities in Maryland and Virginia reported no major incidents
Friday as a result of the much-talked about truckers protest around the
Beltway. Drivers of tractor trailers had said they were going to drive slowly
to block off parts of the Beltway to protest excessive government intrusion.
There were police reports of about 30 tractor trailers with American flags and signs for their protest — “Truckers Ride for the Constitution” — driving at the same speed as the rest of traffic on the Beltway in Friday morning’s rush hour. But by mid-day the truckers appeared to have broken into smaller groups amid already-heavy volumes of traffic and rain showers on a holiday weekend."


The Foxes too:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/11/dozens-not-thousands-show-up-for-dc-trucker-protest/

A trucker protest aimed at clogging the Capital Beltway around
Washington to protest government "corruption" was not shaping up to
be quite the commuter nightmare organizers had threatened.
As of Friday morning, dozens of tractor-trailers were said to be on the
road as part of the protest convoy.
Virginia state police say they stopped four tractor-trailer drivers on the
Beltway, pulling them over after they began driving side-by side across
all four northbound lanes of the Beltway in Fairfax County.
Their actions slowed traffic to about 15 mph. Officers warned the
drivers not to impede traffic and did not write any tickets.
Police say a convoy of about 30 trucks began traveling north on
Interstate 95 from Doswell, Va., on Friday morning. The truckers are
circling the Beltway.
However, the presence was not quite the thousands of truckers that
organizers had predicted. On Friday morning, just a handful of people
had showed up at a key staging area.
According to MyFoxDC.com , organizers say more could show up through
the weekend.
The rally, "Truckers Ride for the Constitution," had called for 10,000 truck
drivers to show up Friday morning and circle I-495 for the next three
days, according to a Facebook page for the event.
"Truckers will lead the path to saving our country if every American
rides with them!" the Facebook page says, adding "The American people
are sick and tired of the corruption that is destroying America!"
On its website, the group lists several demands, including that President
Obama resign immediately, that the debt ceiling not be raised and that
National Security Agency surveillance of communications be ceased. The
group is also complaining about low wages and rising fuel costs.
The event's organizers, however, have stressed that they intend to
keep the protest peaceful and adhere to all traffic laws.
"We're not coming in to cause any violence or disrupt anything,"
protester J.B. Schaffner told Greta Van Sustern Thursday night on
"Greta."
"We're just coming in to make our voice heard.""

http://www.eutimes.net/2013/10/obama-retreats-to-secret-bunker-as-big-event-draws-near/

Read it here:

Obama Retreats To Secret Bunker As “Big Event” Draws Near
Posted by EU Times on Oct 9th, 2013 // 40 Comments
A truly grim “urgent action bulletin” issued by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MoFA ) earlier today
states that the Main Intelligence Directorate ( GRU)
has received word from “highly placed” sources
within the Pentagon that President Barack Obama
this past week cancelled his trip to Asia and has
retreated with many of his top aides to the
mysterious and newly built White House bunker in
preparation for what many in the world’s
intelligence agencies are calling the “Big Event.”
Important to note are that these GRU sources
were notified by their Pentagon counterparts last
week that Obama was preparing to invoke the powers given to him under
50 USC Chapter 13 to hold that various American States are now in a “state
of insurrection” thus allowing him to invoke the National Emergencies Act
under 50 USC § 1621 and invoke the highly controversial “continuity of
government ” plan for the United States allowing him, in essence, to rule
with dictatorial powers.
Equally important to note, this MoFA bulletin says, is that the mysterious
White Bunker was completed last September (2012) at a cost of $86 million
(US) and had taken over two years to complete and whose purpose
remains clouded in secrecy.
Critical to note, this bulletin says, is that Obama
quietly last month extended the post-9/11
Declaration of National Emergency thus giving him
the power to take over America should he so
choose.
Joining Obama in his plan to take over United
States, this bulletin continues, are his journalist
cohorts (otherwise known as “presstitutes ”) who
now include America’s top conservative reporters
who were summoned yesterday to a secret “off-
record” White House meeting with the President.
To what end Obama is ordering his propaganda media allies to prepare
the American people for, this bulletin further states, can be gleaned from
their recent reporting which includes:
1.) Former US Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Paul Craig Roberts who is
advocating that Obama declare a National Emergency and rule as dictator.
2.) US Congress member Sheila Jackson Lee who is advocating that Obama
declare Martial Law .
3.) New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman who is advocating that the
American people stand with Obama as democracy itself is at stake .
4.) New York Times guest columnist and professor
of history at Princeton University Sean Wilentz
warning that the Obama regime has neglected to
do its utmost to defend the Constitution punish
Republicans he said have brought their country to
ruin .
5.) Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman
advocating that Obama create a Constitutional
crisis in order to defy Republican blackmailers.
Of the greatest danger facing the American
people, MoFA historical analysts in this bulleting
say, is Obama becoming a modern day Abraham
Lincoln, who was the 16th President of The United
States and who engineered its 1861-1865 Civil War.
Like Obama, Lincoln was elected during one of the most divisive periods of
American history with the issue then being over the rights of the individual
States versus the central federal government in regards to slavery.
Lincoln, who had proclaimed prior to his becoming President that
“eliminating every last black person from American soil would be “a
glorious consummation, ” and who in his First Inaugural Address stated “ I
have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of
slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do
so, and I have no inclination to do so, ” nevertheless forced his nation into
civil war and became the first leader of the United States to suspend its
Constitution and rule with dictatorial powers.
Today many Lincoln scholars and Obama supporters, reports the Canadian
Free Press , say that Lincoln saved the Constitution by suspending
constitutional liberty in the North for the entire duration of his
administration. He supposedly “had to destroy constitutional liberty in order
to save it.”
Lincoln further regarded the US Constitution as an
unnecessary impediment to his political ambitions
by exhibiting his total disregard for the law of the
land (the law of America’s founders) by launching
a military invasion against the South without the
consent of the US Congress.
Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and imprisoned
thousands without trial for opposing his political
policies, censored communications and even
imprisoned numerous publishers of newspapers
who wrote in opposition of his tactics, confiscated
firearms, and as this article warns: “ Is any of this
beginning to sound familiar? ”
So today, this bulletin continues, Obama has become the first President in
American history to declare he will not negotiate with his equal
counterparts in the US Congress , has ordered Federal workers to “make
life as difficult for people as we can, ” has suspended all oversight of his
massive NSA spying apparatus has the most terrible and feared secret
police force since the Cold War, and controls over 120,000 armed Federal
agents he can unleash upon his people at a moments notice and that has
been described as “ equally as powerful as the US military ”.
And in its summation, this bulletin warns, with Obama now “secure in his
bunker,” threatening priests with arrest if they minister to US soldiers, and
US banks stuffing ATMs with 20-30% more cash in case of panicked
withdrawals, these GRU warnings of a “Big Event” soon to occur in the
United States cannot be dismissed as they may, in fact, point to a complete
overturning of America in the coming weeks.

A story that's not widely publicized in US or international media involves a protest by citizens against the Obama administration:

THE INVITATION - This weekend ALL Americans have an opportunity to
participate in a nationwide protest.
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Patriots, it's time to show THE DOMESTIC
ENEMIES in the District of Criminals that we are AWAKE, AWARE, and ACTIVE.
We, the American people WILL NOT tolerate any further abuses of political
power, and we will not rest until every single one of the treasonous tyrants in ALL three branches of our government are held accountable for ANY and ALL treasonous, or outright tyrannical offenses as per the Constitution and
Federal law.
We the People believe in due process, however, we also believe that NOW is
the time for some kind of 'process' to start. Until all of the anti-American, oath breaking, DOMESTIC (and FOREIGN) ENEMIES from all three branches of government are indicted, tried, convicted (or not convicted), and sentenced (or not), We the People will NOT be backing down going away. We will only continue to get bigger, badder, louder, and meaner. START DOING YOUR JOBS, WASHINGTON!!!

Pls follow me as I post some latest reports on the planned protest, which is reportedly underway now now in DC.

Sagamite: You are wrong!

Majority of marriages are failures.

The marriage institution is a complete failure and has been a complete failure throughout history.

"... throughout history"? I won't say that Mr. Shagamite. My granparents died married, my parents died married...

I can guess most Nairalanders would at least confirm that their grannies too didn't have failed marriages, despite the challenges they may have faced in their own time.

What we need to find out is how they did it.

Try Saro beans... or Cotonou beans. You'll still be sitting by your gas cooker after 2 hours. Even when you add the little rocks of 'kaun', those bean seeds would cry out, "who side?"

Now o, who stole my fridjon after all the wahala of Good Friday cooking?

juman: America has started again their infamous kidnapping of Muslims like during the time of president Bush. The kidnapping is illegal and in violation of international law.

Oh no! My man, this has no American involvement. It's about armed Islamist fighters kidnapping the PM. He's been released same day, though.

"Malawi's President Joyce Banda has sacked her cabinet amid allegations of
widespread corruption in government.

Several officials have been caught allegedly with money hidden under their
beds and in their cars, reports the BBC's Raphael Tenthani from Malawi.

Last month, top finance ministry official Paul Mphwiyo, who was seen as an
anti-corruption crusader, was shot and wounded, our reporter says.
Western donors have been urging Ms Banda to tackle corruption.

Malawi is a poor African state, heavily dependent on financial aid from the
European Union (EU) and other foreign powers.

Ms Banda's office said a new cabinet would be appointed in due course,
without elaborating. She called a crisis meeting of the cabinet before her office announced that it had been dissolved, our reporter says.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Ms Banda said she had appointed a
special team, made up of police and government officials, to do a financial
audit across all government departments.

Our reporter says the shooting of Mr Mphwiyo opened a can of worms with the
media awash with reports of unscrupulous civil servants conniving with
businessmen to fleece the government of millions of dollars through dubious
contracts.

Mr Mphwiyo, the budget director in the finance ministry, was shot as he drove
into his residence in the upmarket Area 43 suburb of the capital, Lilongwe, on
13 September. The shooting was "attack aimed at silencing him and the government in the fight against high levels of corruption and fraud", Ms Banda's office said at the
time. Four suspects were arrested over the shooting, our reporter says.

About 10 junior government officials have been arrested so far for suspected
corruption, Reuters news agency reports."

How I wish President Jonathan is the one being reported here. I'll feel so elated and proud. Nigeria, Oh! my Nigeria!!!

Enjoying or not, who forced you to say, " I do"?

If you don't make every effort to enjoy the marriage after saying that, you deserve myriads of slaps to wake up so that next time, you won't say I do when you are asked if you are ready for a 'for better, for worse' lifetime experience.

So, go and 'do' as you promised. If you don't, maybe the myriads of slaps you get would make you realize that enjoying your marriage is something you have to work out, not just expect to happen. See, when your real good friends behave in a way you don't like, you just say it out, discuss and resolve the matter and move on. Why not with your spouse?

Now to personally answer the main question, 'I do', because I make every effort to 'do' because I said, 'I do'.

Msgamble: guy, N. Korea n iran doesn't possess any nuke as at now..d only reason N. Korea is nt attacked by West is because of China, iran is nt attacked(for now) because of Russia n israel safety(due to threat from iranian terrorist proxy lyk hezbollah n ISoI n Levant)..west attacked vietnam,korea,cuba,panama,serbia why didn't they result to terrorism? Is it only muslim state they attacked, jihad(terrorism) is in their book n genes..get ur fact right

I'm sorry if I gave the impression that Iran and North Korea have nukes. That is definitely not what I meant by saying having "nuclear capabilities". In the parlance, having nuclear capability is having commenced of a process to a level that is capable of enriching uranium, even if not yet achieved to nuclear grade. You will agree with me that both nations mentioned fall into this cathegory. North Korea is even reported to have some nukes already and only working on how to successfully launch it.

There is also the possibility of making what is called 'dirty bomb' if enriched uranium is available for inclusion in an explosive, not minding whether the enriched uranium is home-made or purchased abroad. That alone is a fear factor for the west and for Israel.

There was a time that Ghaddafi commenced the process of building nuclear facilities, but was convinced by the west to discontinue and dismatle the facilities as a condition for peace. South Africa too was reported to have developed few nukes but disposed of them, probably because it was apparent that blacks would soon hold political power. If indeed thay had nukes or the capability, they lost both at that time.

Any way it goes, enriched uranium is a dangerous weapon that could be introduced in some ways for a fatal attack, including just diseminating it into the air, water, feed or land.

Omooba77: Even Assyad is trading on his biological weapon!

And if he's smart enough, he won't drop it all for them to destroy. It's a bargaining chip. That's like the balance of terror that USSR traded with for decades. The US was direly afraid of the Soviets during the Cold War because they too packed some probable terror punches.