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Politics › Re: Good Things Happening In Nigeria by Jen33(op): 2:51am On May 08, 2007

Politics › Re: Good Things Happening In Nigeria by Jen33(op): 12:55am On May 08, 2007

LAGOS PICS cool

Politics › Re: Good Things Happening In Nigeria by Jen33(op): 6:37pm On May 06, 2007

Why don't U tell us about NEPA and Security as well ?

You obviously haven't taken the time to read the thread. Either that or u gat faulty eyesight.

Politics › Re: Good Things Happening In Nigeria by Jen33(op): 6:23pm On May 06, 2007

Politics › Good Things Happening In Nigeria by Jen33(op): 6:09pm On May 06, 2007

World Press Comments on Nigerian developments

- Building confidence -
Big challenges remain for President Obasanjo’s reforming administration, but investor belief in Africa’s most populous nation is growing

http://www.worldreport-ind.com/nigeria2/index.htm

A potent mixture of oil, democracy and reform has been transforming the fortunes of Africa’s most populous country. Once a military dictatorship regarded as a pariah state, Nigeria now boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is on the way to becoming the powerhouse of the continent.

Growing international confidence in the West African country is reflected in recent assessments from international observers.

Ratings by the global agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s have placed Nigeria in the same category as emerging economies such as Brazil, Venezuela, Turkey and the Philippines.

Both agencies cite the commitment to reform of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s federal government, together with last year’s decision by the Paris Club of creditors to lift the country’s crippling burden of external debt, as key reasons for taking a positive view of the future. All eyes will be on Nigeria next year, hoping that the economic reform programme will be continued in the years following the 2007 elections.

The analysts forecast that economic prospects will improve even more when further progress is made in tackling the political and social challenges that the nation faces. Indeed, a Goldman Sachs report has suggested that if Nigeria sticks to its reform agenda, it will overtake South Africa and Egypt to become Africa’s strongest economy and by 2020 could become one of the 25 largest economies in the world.

The vital energy sector continues to develop rapidly, with the coming onstream of huge new deepwater oil and gas fields. Prospects look good for achieving the government’s objective of raising production from 2.6 million barrels per day to four million, and the high price of crude is keeping up oil revenues despite problems in the Niger Delta.

Obasanjo’s reform agenda has set Nigeria on course to become the strongest economy in Africa.

One of the most important challenges the government needs to meet is to ensure that Nigeria’s oil wealth is shared fairly. This has been underlined by the recent outbreak of kidnapping and damage to oil facilities in the Delta. The swampy region in the southwest is the main source of Nigeria’s oil revenues and, at the same time, one of the most impoverished parts of the country.

As demonstrated by the subsequent production shutdowns, there is the potential here for disruption of the most vital sector of Nigeria’s economy, not to mention the global oil supply. Oil accounts for around a quarter of GDP, more than 90 per cent of the total foreign exchange and nearly 80 per cent of government revenues.

In this context, the work of the Niger Delta Development Commission, which recently launched a masterplan to accelerate development and combat poverty in the area, is of not only local, but national and even international importance.

Another, and associated, issue is that of ‘local content’, in particular the extent of indigenous involvement in the oil and gas industry. Nigeria is reckoned to be losing a massive £4.6 billion annually through the awarding of lucrative oil service contracts to foreign firms.

The government is putting extra pressure on the multinational oil companies to utilise significant local content in terms of materials and services in the development and operation of their concessions. It is also bolstering indigenous participation in other key sectors of the economy.

An increasing number of Nigerian oil services firms are proving they have the ability to take on major contracts. At the same time steps are being taken to provide the training required for more Nigerians – especially the unemployed youth – to join the oil sector workforce.

On the political front, President Obasanjo, currently in his second term, has won praise for his economic, political and social reforms and anti-corruption campaign. Crucially his policies are encouraging foreign investment into the economy, and not just in the oil and gas sector; non-oil sectors are also expanding rapidly.

[Former] Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala says, “Our efforts have been rewarded by an inflow of foreign direct investment, estimated at $3 billion (£1.7 billion)a year in the non-oil sector.”

The non-oil GDP growth rate was 8 per cent last year, signalling that measures to diversify are working.

Overall, the economy expanded 8.2 per cent in 2005, while growth of 10 per cent is targeted for 2006.

Government spending this year will be focused on human and physical infrastructure to develop power, roads, water supply, agriculture, education, health and security.

Approximately £2.6 billion has been earmarked for the implementation of capital projects all over the country, including the building of new power plants.

Vice President Atiku Abubakar argues that Nigeria is now a stable country where risks for investors are now minimal. “In the past six years, we have pursued our economic reforms with vigour and tremendous success. Returns on investment here are the highest in Africa,” he says.

Security Boost: FG spends N12b on 2,500 police patrol vehicles

Tordue Salem
Saturday, April 14, 2007

Abuja — The Presidential committee on Police equipment, weekend displayed the first batch of about 2,500 patrol vehicles to be presented to the Police by President Olusegun Obasanjo Monday.

The BMW, Ford patrol jeeps and 4-wheel-drive trucks, imported into the Country a few days ago, are to be presented to men of the force, by President Obasanjo and the Inspector-General of police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.

The National Coordinator of the Police Equipment Fund (PEF), Mr. Kenny Martins, told journalists that[b] “the investigation trucks, which were bought at the minimum of N5million each, cost a total of N12billion”[/b]

Mr. Martins who is the National Secretary of the National Democratic Party (NDP), but also working for the PDP Presidential candidate Umar Musa Yar’Adua, told journalists that “the patrol vehicles would go round the 36 states of the Federation”

Martins doused the fears of Nigerians that the vehicles would end up as “private property of some top government people.”

“These cars are not going to end up with anybody, they are for the police” he clarified.

The NDP chieftain, said “Every vehicle that is here will eventually be tracked in the tracker system, so that they will not be diverted for private use”.

He said the Presidency in making the purchases, “dealt with reputable brands like Ford, BMW, Rover, and Toyota and 15% of the vehicle parts came with the cars, and you know that the parts wouldn’t be a problem, because most of the parts can be found here” said he.

Obasanjo to open ‘Outsourcing Conference’

March 5th, 2007

President Olusegun Obasanjo will declare open Nigeria's first International Outsourcing Conference in Abuja scheduled to hold from March 21 - March 23, 2007.

IHEANYI NWACHUKWU

The conference is part of the Federal Government's efforts to launch the country's National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS).

Following a year of research and preparation, the government has appointed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as responsible for the execution of the national strategy.

NITDA has partnered with AITEC Africa, as the leader in ICT conferences across the continent, to host the first International Outsourcing conference in Nigeria.

One of the highlights of the conference will be the launching of the National Outsourcing Association.

It will also be the first time that Nigeria will be officially positioning itself as an outsourcing destination to the rest of the world.

Following the government's lead, Dimension Data announced its support for the conference as lead sponsor. The Nigeria International Outsourcing Conference will provide a marketing and education platform to promote outsourcing as an industry in Nigeria. It will bring together all stakeholders, locally and internationally, to lay the foundation for a Nigerian outsourcing industry.

"The Nigeria International Outsourcing Conference will provide practical business and technology briefings to empower resellers, service providers and users to maximize their returns on the increasing investment that they will be making in the outsourcing sector over the coming years," said Sean Moroney, chairman of AITEC Africa[i]."By providing a platform for vendors, service providers and users to network and share knowledge, the conference will act as a catalyst to continue the momentum established by NITDA"[/i].

"The event will include a two-day conference and practical implementation workshops on the third day. Topics to be covered in the conference include: outsourcing challenges and opportunities, international linkages, contact centre strategies & technologies, BPO implementation, capacity building, setting goals for future growth, business opportunities showcase", said Sean.

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LAGOS INTRODUCES FREE HEALTH PROGRAMME

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Jide Idris has said that from Monday, 12th March, 2007 the state government will commence free health services to all Lagosians.

Addressing a press conference to kick-start the Eko Free Health Programme, Dr. Idris said the free health programme would start from Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, in the Lagos West Senatorial district from Monday, 12th to Friday, 16th March, 2007.

Dr. Idris said the programme would include free consultation and treatment of various ailments, including surgical operations for the correction of hernia, appendix, abdominal swelling, lumps, gynecological problems, among others, adding that there would also be screening for and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, eye diseases and dental problems.

He urged corporate and non governmental organizations to partner with the government to improve health care delivery in the state.

Nigerian Company Acquires Stakes in UK company.

Shoreline Acquires Costain West Africa

By Crusoe Osagie, 03.12.2007

Shoreline Energy International Ltd. has acquired controlling interests of Costain Group Plc UK in Costain West Africa Plc., making it the new owner of the construction firm.

Managing Director of Shoreline Energy International, Mr. Kola Karim, described the acquisition as central to his company’s strategy of becoming the leading infrastructure solution provider in Africa.

“This is the second big acquisition we have made in West Africa in the last two years and it is in line with our goal of becoming the foremost infrastructure solution provider on the continent”, Karim said.

He disclosed that a technical service agreement is in place with Costain Group Plc UK to continue to support Costain West Africa Plc’s various projects across West Africa.

“We already have substantial stakes in the infrastructure sector in East Africa and will be in the same position in Southern Africa when we complete a major acquisition which is at an advanced stage of negotiations,” Karim added.

Managing Director of Costain West Africa Plc, Mr. Phillip Wharton, also said the divestment by Costain Group Plc, will not impact negatively on the operations of the company.

He expressed optimism that Shoreline would bring vigour, new ideas and much needed investment into Costain West Africa Plc which will enable the company to re-strategise in order to regain its position as the leading engineering company in the region.

“I am excited at having Shoreline Energy International on board. Over the last few months working on this acquisition, I have been impressed by the energy, dynamism, commitment and ideas of Shoreline Energy International. I am convinced their presence will make a huge difference to Costain West Africa Plc”, he stated.

Shoreline already has substantial investment in Nigeria. In 2005, its subsidiary, Shoreline Power Company Limited, acquired the manufacturing arm of ABB Nigeria, ABB Electrical Systems Limited, making it the only Original Equipment Manu-facturer (OEM) for ABB products in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The company’s focus has been on power distribution infrastructure development in Africa and through another subsidiary, Agbara Shoreline Power Company, it is also building an 100MW power plant in Agbara Estate.

Shoreline Energy International also has substantial interests in the telecommunications sector through its subsidiary, Fortis Construction Limited.

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Indonesian firm to build ‘cities’ in Nigeria

March 11th, 2007

Barring last-minute hitches, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt will be beneficiaries of ultra-modern city developments, compliments of an Indonesian firm.

VINCENT CHUKS IGBINEDION

The firm, Ciputra Group, has already made a series of visits to Nigeria and has had discussions with government officials on the feasibility of establishing the projects in the country.

Charles Okoye, managing director/chief executive officer of UBN Property Co. Ltd, in an exclusive chat with BusinessDay in Lagos, says the firm has a universal reputation for self-contained city development and the founder of the company, Ir. Ciputra, is highly excited at the prospects of investment in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

According to Okoye, Ciputra discussed the prospects of the project at a congress of the International Real Estate Federation. This followed a country tour to Nigeria by the immediate past president of the federation, Dato’ Alan Tong Kok Mau, last year.

Alan Tong, a Malaysian popularly called the Condo King (he is said to own about 80 percent of the condos in Malaysia), had during the visit advised that city developments in Nigeria should henceforth be vertical, that is, developers should concentrate on high-rise buildings rather than the conventional low-rise buildings that dot the cityscape. He made the recommendation bearing in mind the cost of land, especially in such cities as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Ciputra Group is a consortium established in 1984 for the specific purpose of planning, developing and managing the Bumi Serpong Damai new city project on 6,000 hectare site located south west of Jakarta — the first self-contained city.

Okoye, who is the Africa regional president of the federation, says the group specialises in large-scale developments, starting from 4,000 hectares of land. He adds that officials of the firm have had series of discussions with Nigerian embassy officials in Jakarta, before they met at the real estate forum. The real estate federation is an association of professionals in the industry with headquarters in France.

The current president, Owen Gwyn, has confirmed the interest of the Indonesian company in the development projects.

This development is coming after the Malaysian Gardens Project, a large-scale city development programme being executed in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Also last year, developers of The Paddocks, an N18-billion self-contained upper-end estate, unveiled the project. It was funded 80 percent by an Italian firm.

Founded in 1981 by Ciputra and members of his immidiate family, the Ciputra Group pioneered housing development adjacent to Jakarta International Airport.

It specialises in large-scale, integrated projects; combining housing, commercial and recreational centres, and mixed-use developments including hotel, shopping and office-complexes. The Ciputra Group went public in 1994.

Giving Lagos Island a facelift

By Jude Njoku & Kingsley Adegboye

Posted to the Web: Monday, March 12, 2007

Lagos Island is unarguably the hottest business district in the country. The district which houses the tallest buildings competing for visibility was the toast of property investors and other blue chip companies until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Reason? The area decayed so terribly that many of these corporate organizations that had their head offices in the district soon started relocating to Victoria Island and South West Ikoyi.

The menacing activities of street urchins popularly called area boys and street traders compounded the environmental problems of the city centre. Persistent calls for action by the Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment (LIMGE) and similar non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the government to check the downward slide in the fortunes of the CBD fell on deaf ears until recently when the state government embarked upon massive redevelopment of the Island. Lagos Island stakeholders who spoke on the impact of the ongoing rehabilitation project thumbed up the government.

Property values begin to appreciate

Prior to the ongoing redevelopment of Lagos Island, most banks and blue chip companies relocated their head offices to Abuja, Victoria Island and South West Ikoyi. The situation was so bad that most high-rise buildings in the Business District became virtually unoccupied.

Property owners in the area under the aegis of the Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment (LIMGE), cried out to the state government to commence a redevelopment of the city centre and check the excesses of miscreants popularly called area boys. Their plea initially fell on deaf ears until the government flagged off the present renewal effort.

Second Vice President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Osita Okoli said the situation is now changing and property values are going up again.

He was answering a question on whether the menace of the street urchins will not jeopardize the current renewal efforts and what impact the redevelopment will have on property values. Hear him:

“Most definitely, properties will appreciate. To start with, the major reason why properties depreciated in Lagos Island wasn’t because of the human factor; it wasn’t because of activities of area boys and their menacing impact on the society; It was because the area was blighted. The streets were almost impassable due to many street sellers.''

" So, I am confident that upon the conclusion of the renewal efforts being undertaken by the Lagos State government in providing roads, drainages and such other infrastructure, Lagos Island will be given a rebirth. Property values are in fact already on the upward swing. Rentals in this property have increased and I expect that rentals will increase on other properties as well.''

" It is just a matter of management. The current construction of roads and drains will enhance the management of such people because if the law enforcement agents are trying to track or chase them, it would be easier to get them when the roads are passable than when they are impassable''.

Is there a glut of vacant properties in Lagos Island? This was the question VF put to Mr. Okoli and he responded thus:

''To the best of my knowledge, there are still some fallow buildings, but they are being snapped up. But I can tell you that as the development progresses and people begin to see the impact the development is making, many of the banks and financial institutions that have moved to Victoria Island may reconsider and come back to Lagos Island because Lagos Island will be easier to access. It is nearer to the mainland; it is more central and traffic would be easier to manage. In fact, Lagos Island has a more beautiful view. Look at the lagoon just there. I can tell you, Lagos Island is coming back to life”.

The state government

Lagos State Government at the weekend assured that the ongoing facelift of roads which is the first stage of the government’s redevelopment programme of the Central Business District (CBD) in Lagos Island is expected to be completed in the next two months.

The second stage which is the construction of shopping malls with entertainment complexes and more office towers is also expected to commence immediately.

Speaking to our correspondent, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Francisco Abosede said the completion period for the road work which commenced in October 2005, was 18 months which is supposed to come to an end in April this year.

The Commissioner who said street traders in the CBD will be moved out to allow for free flow of traffic on the upgraded roads, also noted that the state government has plans to engage the touts popularly known as Area Boys in the area in order to get rid of area boys’ activities in the Island, explaining that the government will train them in different kinds of craft works so that they can become useful to themselves and their society.

He noted that the government already has a centre for the training of area boys to artisans. :lol:

Explaining that the economic potentials of the CBD will be further boosted with more investors coming to the area after the completion of the redevelopment programme of the Island, he said the companies that left the area because of its previous deplorable condition have started returning to the CBD because[b] “they are seeing things happening in the area”[/b] Abosede noted.

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FG Mobilises for Made-in-Nigeria Satellite

From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.13.2007

The Federal Government yesterday assembled the cream of the country's engineering community and space technology researchers in Abuja to brainstorm on how to develop local capacity in the design, manufacture and launch of a space satellite within the shortest possible time.

The event, which was organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, brought together distinguished university scholars, Nigerians in Diaspora and private consultants to work out modalities for the actualisation of the country's dream of a wholly Nigerian-built space satellite by 2018.

Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun who was represented by the Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. A. Adejumo said government's heavy investment in space satellite technology clearly demonstrates its commitment to the development of space technology and subsequent application to hasten our socio-economic progress.

He said government's interest was emboldened by the success story of the first satellite, NigeriaSat-1 which has since its launch in 2003 contributed immensely to national development.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had while unveiling the country's space technology road map directed that NASRDA should work towards grooming Nigerians to become space astronauts in the next 15 years.

Nigeria launched its first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, an earth-observation satellite in 2003, and is currently engaged in the execution of two other satellite projects, NigeriaSat-2 and Nigeria communications satellite - NigcomSat.

However, all of these efforts are being carried out outside the shores of the country under a foreign technical assistance programme with China.

Isoun said acquiring satellite technology is of great strategic importance to any country, adding it is for this reason that the government has taken up the challenge to mobilise our human capital to acquire and sustain the space technology.

Speaking at the research workshop, NASRDA Director-General, Professor Robert Boroffice said the objective of the national space technology programme is to make space research and development activities part of the overall strategies for sustainable development.

He said the purpose of the workshop was to explore areas of research collaboration with Nigerian universities to develop local expertise for the development of a satellite locally in line with the presidential charge of having a manned mission on the moon by 2025.

NIGERIA 'ON COURSE' FOR 10,000 MW POWER IN 2007

Quote:
The Minister of State for Energy, Ahmed Abdulhamid, has disclosed that efforts were being intensified to ensure that the Paplanto and Omotosho 335MW power stations in Ogun and Ondo states respectively came on stream by April 2007, while adding another 670MW to the national grid.

The Minister made this known while addressing the Press after an inspection tour of the two power stations last week.

He assured that “We are doing everything possible to monitor the activities of the contractors in order to fast-track the process. Also the 10,000MW target for 2007 is on course”.

He expressed regrets that vandalizing gas pipelines and transmission lines posed a great threat to the stable supply of electricity in the country and then called on all Nigerians to wage a total war against those perceived enemies of progress, while equally urging Nigerians to conserve energy by switching off appliances when not needed.

On the recent interconnection power project of 80MW between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, he explained that it was part of a sub-regional cooperation Agreement aimed at power sufficiency within the sub-region under the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

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NEPC launches Nigeria into global outsourcing industry, targets $10 billion per annum.

By Franklin Alli
Posted to the Web: Thursday, March 15, 2007

The Special Adviser to the President/CEO Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Modupe Sasore, said the Council has created a platform that will enable the country to net $10 billion (about N1.3 trillion ) as revenue annually, from the global Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing (IT BPO).
The global outsourcing Industry is estimated to be worth $150-310 billion, generating over 400,000 jobs.

Sasore said the Council is executing the project through Hudson Consulting Group USA, and Tathya Dot Com India who has an outsourcing company with offices in the United States and India, to outsource to Nigeria through a newly established Nigerian company named Business Outsourcing Solution and Services (BOSS Nigeria).

BPO is the contracting firm of some specific business tasks such as a call centre to a third -party, a service provider, while the company focuses on its core business. The outfit requires the software, the process management and the staff to operate the service.

It depends on Information Technology, hence it is referred to as IT BPO. Comparative analysis showed that while South Africa has a vibrant BPO industry with 80,000 staff and 70 companies offering services, and wants to boost this by creating another 100,000 jobs in this sector over the next five years, India, USA controls 59 per cent of the market, Europe 27 per cent, India who netted 36 billion revenues from the sector in 2006, control 5-6 per cent share of the total BPO industry. Philippines, and China have also emerged to take a share of the market.

Describing the sector as very lucrative, Sasore, said “Indeed, the potential of a thriving outsourcing industry in Nigeria is very possible particularly with the recent launching of the Outsourcing initiative by the Federal Government. This will go a long way in kick-starting the growth in the non-oil sector of the economy,” she remarked.

The country, she pointed out, has abundant skilled human capital in IT and Internet Service knowledge that can be easily harnessed to deliver outstanding service export, stressing that the timing of the launching of the outsourcing initiative is most apt since it constitutes the basic ingredient that could and should ginger the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians both at home and abroad as well as attracting the much needed foreign direct investment in the IT sub-sector.

Nigeria, she affirmed, is actually better positioned in terms of cultural fit, adaptability, spoken English as well as potential cost savings for customers.

“It was in our attempt to take advantage of this opportunity that culminated in the launching of this project aimed at facilitating the creation of the business process outsourcing industry in Nigeria.

The objective of the project is to among other things, develop a strategy and implementation plan that will enable Nigeria establish a new export product in the area of flourishing IT outsourcing, thereby making Nigeria an outsourcing destination for IT BPO in Africa.''

It is also intended at diversifying the non-oil sub-sector of the Nigerian economy by developing and promoting another product for export. ''The short and long term goal of the project is to create more jobs and earn foreign exchange for Nigeria.” she said.

Also speaking , Executive Vice President, Hudson Consulting Group USA, Mr. Tom Iseghohi, who said the sector demands: First world infrastructure, international connectivity, sophiscated financial services industry, international finance, legal and security compliance and cultural affinity of agents, including time zone affinity to Europe and multilingual staff and leadership and work ethics, said BOSS Nigeria has met all these requirements and is ready to begin business May 2007.

BOSS Nigeria is already registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, has secured three 78 million dollars contract, which will be executed in the next five years.

He also foresees the possibility of the company to be quoted on the Nigeria stock Exchange (NSE), after 18 months in operation.

FG awards $3.5 billion contract to ease power failure

March 20th, 2007

A N445-billion ($3.46-billion) contract has been awarded for the construction of the Mambilla hydro power project to improve power supply in the country.

EJIOFOR ALIKE

Edmund Daukoru, minister of energy, said this yesterday in Lagos at the 2007 oil and gas seminar organised by the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.
Daukoru said the contract for Lot 1 of the project, which would cost N187.6-billion ($1.46-billion), had been awarded to a Chinese firm, while an additional N257-billion ($2-billion) would be required for the completion of the project.

The minister, who was represented by Jafaru ****, special adviser to the president on petroleum resources, said the Lot 1, which covered civil works and hydraulic steel structures, would be completed in 64 months.
The energy boss said the hydro-electric power project would generate 2,600 megawatts of electricity when completed.

The minister said the Federal Government had spent over N771-billion ($6-billion) on power plants, while N45.8-billion had been expended on rural electrification from 1999 to date with N23.3-billion earmarked for rural electrification agency in 2007.

He said 1,946 rural electrification projects were continuing, with 836 communities already covered, adding that 445 projects would be completed before May this year.

The equipment for the construction of the power plants at Gbarain, Egbema, Sapele, Ihovbor and Calabar have been discharged at Onne and Calabar ports.

According to him, N81-billion has been invested in the distribution of electricity, with the construction of 1,701 kilometres of new 33kv lines; 2,666km of new 11kv lines; 3,540 MVA new sub-station capacity, and 22, 598 new transformers.

He maintained that the over 250 contracts being executed in more than 600 project sites had provided employment to 100,000 people, adding that the power projects had created jobs in the Niger-Delta area.

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Nigeria to Earn $10bn Annually from Gas Projects – Kupolokun

From Chika Amanze-Nwachuku and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.21.2007

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Funsho Kupolokun yesterday disclosed that Nigeria would earn well over $10 billion annually when the various gas projects embarked upon would have come on stream.

Speaking at the opening of the 2007 Offshore West Africa oil and gas conference holding in Abuja, Kupolokun said, the gas sector has recorded tremendous successes such that from a mere 197mmcf per day in 1999, the country has moved to 5billion mmcf with a projection of about 20bn cfpd by 2010.

He stated that the first phase of the West African Gas Project, which was aimed at supplying natural gas to Republics of Benin, Togo, and Ghana, has been completed and would be commissioned in the first week of April by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

"The project holds a capacity of 200million standard cubic feet per day with a potential of 500million scfd that would supply natural gas to Benin , Togo , and Ghana" .

The NNPC boss also disclosed that the corporation is to spend between $10 and $11bn on counterpart funding for annual oil and gas investments estimated at about $29.4bn, adding that it would amount to double of its current level of $5.5 billion.

Production has grown from 1.2million barrels per day in 1992 to 3million bpd under the current dispensation, representing a growth of four per cent per annum, he said.
"Here we are talking of an explosion, the domestic gas sector in 1993, we were talking of 324mmcf and by 1999 when this administration came, it dropped down to 197mmcf per day. But since the inception of the civillian administration, the volume has risen to 5 billion standard cubic feet per day. The growth is
such that by 2010 - 2011, we should be talking about
20 billion mmcf per day", he said.

According to him, the prospect for increased gas pricing in
Europe and America is driving up demand for LNG
products from Nigeria while the unprecedented
development in the country's power sector is another
source of improved earnings from gas.

The GMD who alluded the rising profile of gas in the
country's economy to the various strategic
transformations spear-headed by government, said even
the gas industry appeared to have been taken unawares
by the fast growth in demand for gas.

Kupolokun listed some the gas projects expected to
deliver enormous revenue to the country to include,
Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Olokola Liquefied
Natural Gas, West African Gas Pipeline, Escravos Gas
to Liquid project and Trans Saharan Gas Pipeline.

The NNPC boss said the Final Investment Decision on
the Brass LNG will be taken by first week of April,
while that of OKLNG will come up before the end the
year.
The GMD noted that tremendous successes have been recorded in various deep water projects like; Usan, Agbami and Apo, saying by the time these projects would come on stream, the country's new targets of 4.5million bpd and 40billion barrels reserve would have been more than achieved, even as it is producing about 2.4million bpd of its installed capacity of 3million bpd.

Kupolokun however lauded the[b] Local Content Policy[/b] of the federal government, stating that the bill is currently before the National Assembly.

Speaking on the effort of the company to
bridge the expected funding gap for joint venture
projects, he said, NNPC has successfully initiated a
stable funding structure that would enable the
organisation fill the gap of about $5bn by next year.
He disclosed that the company is about launching a major
initiative aimed ensuring a stable funding structure
to take care of the shortfall from government's
contribution to the running of the JV operations in
the oil and gas industry.
Although, he did not give further details on the
nature of the fund, Kupolokun said the arrangement
will see NNPC creating a window for ready source of
funds for its JV activities.

Starcomms introduces 'Pay as you surf' to Nigeria.

Internet use and data downloading has become a lot easier as Starcomms Limited, one of Nigeria's largest CDMA 3G Mobile networks, has delivered on its promise to empower Nigerians through consistent provision of customized and innovative telecommunication solutions.

The company introduced a new service known as 'Pay As You Surf' which provides subscribers a more flexible and unlimited access to the internet in a most price-friendly manner.

The customer just loads a normal recharge card to browse and will be billed on per minute basis. That means that the subscriber will only pay for the time he/she connected to the net. The new service requires the purchase of a data pack which contains the connecting cable, CD and information describing how the subscriber will activate the service in any Starcomms' CDMA internet-compliant handset and computer.

This service will cost a nominal N1,000 one-off activation fee payment. With options of N7.40 per minute during peak time and N5.00 per minute during off-peak, the customer surfs at his/her convenience and pays for the exact usage. There are no monthly subscriptions, but the subscriber enjoys unlimited access as long as there is sufficient credit in his account.

To activate the service, all the subscriber needs to do is visit any Starcomms shop, request for Pay As You Surf data service, fill a data subscription form, pay N1,000 activation fee and the service is activated within 24 hours after completing the request.

Mobiles and fixed wireless phone users all top up their Data PAYS Account with a normal recharge card, while for first time activation, the subscriber has to access the IVR dialing *999*. All subsequent recharges can be done by simply following the instructions behind the Starcomms recharge card.

In addition, a Pay As You Surf subscriber can share the same credit account for voice and data. The subscriber can surf the internet or make voice calls as long as there is sufficient credit in the account, and the subscriber can keep using the service by simply topping the account when low by loading a recharge card.

Starcomms' Commercial Director, Mr. Prakash Pantham, who confirmed the development, said it was borne out of the need to give subscribers different options on accessing the internet, adding that it is a demonstration of the firm's expertise in maximizing new technologies to meet customers' needs.

"It is the endeavour of the company to constantly innovate and introduce services and products to cater to each segment of the market. This innovative service will bring the internet much closer to the common man, allowing easy and affordable access to the world-wide web".

He added that the new service, one of many to be introduced, is in partial fulfillment of Starcomms' promise to build a solid network for voice and data to cater for the needs of its existing and potential subscribers.

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FG to Build Satellite Centre in Abuja

From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.23.2007

The Federal Government yesterday said it had granted approval for the construction of two satellite development centres to be located in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The centres to be known as Satellite Design Centre (SDC) and Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Centre (AITC) are to provide a critical infrastructure base for training Nigerian space engineers and scientists and to groom them for the task of building satellites in the country.

The Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice, who disclosed this at the opening a one-day space science workshop for the media in Abuja, said President Olusegun Obasanjo has given the go-ahead for the establishment of a satellite development centre to enable Nigerian engineers design, build, launch and manage our satellites in orbit.

Against the background of the renewed impetus being given to space technology, government said it has completed the building of Nigerian Communication satellite and would launch it by May 12.
Borofiice said in furtherance of the country's aspiration to develop an in-country capacity in the field of space technology, a Nigerian-built satellite would be launched in 2009 along with the NigeriaSat-2.

He said the construction of the Nigerian satellite is being undertaken by 25 Nigerian engineers presently on a government sponsored study in Surrey in the United Kingdom.

NASRDA D-G also said the construction of the agency's
permanent site had been completed and would be
commissioned next month ahead of the launching of
the communication satellite.

Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner
Isoun, while declaring the workshop open said the
launching of the communication satellite has been
fixed for May 12.
He said the satellite device has already commenced its journey to the site where the eventual launch into orbit will be performed in the Chinese city of Siyan. The Minister said ahead of the formal launch, the communication satellite has already transmitted well
over 2000 images to its ground base in Abuja.

Isoun said the facility is equipped with 26 transponders to aid communication anywhere in Africa.
"The satellite is also positioned to provide comprehensive transmission services via digital or analogue system, operate same
by either fixed or mobile satellite, direct broadcast satellite services, end-to-end solution and engage in transponder leasing.", he said.

The building of the communication satellite project, supported by a $200m credit facility from EXIM Bank of China will provide a wide range of innovative solutions to challenges facing communication
networking in Nigeria and the African continent.

Boroffice said the cost of the design and manufacture of the country's first ever communication satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1 is $450 million.

He said the cost estimate includes that of manufacturing the satellite equipment, building of the ground station and sponsoring staff training.

The D-G said the advent of a wholly owned satellite facility by an African nation has put an end to the continent's dependence on outsiders for its needs.

Borofice said shortly after the launching of the facility, it would be handed over to be managed by a commercial entity known as NIGCOMSAT Nigeria Limited which will undertake marketing and selling of bandwidths and other services of the satellite.

The D-G said NASRDA is currently engaged in some pilot service delivery effort to institutions including the University of Abuja where it using its facility to link the institution's study centre to the main campus in Gwagwalada and assisting the Federal Ministry of Health to be in touch with its Primary health centres via satellite.

He said the agency is also planning to link the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and that of University of Ibadan to some health clinic centre in the remote villages to enable them attend to patients through video conferencing.

Sudanese company, El-RASID Electronic Trading Company
limited yesterday became the first African entity to
buy into the satellite project, staking $200m as
equity holding on the facility.

The Dubai-based firm also put down $50m as advance
payment to purchase 10 out of the forty transponders
offered by the communication payload.

Cooking Gas: FG Targets 1m Tonnes By 2010

From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 03.27.2007

The Federal Government yesterday unveiled a strategy for raising LPG (cooking gas) from the present 60,000 tonnes annual consumption to one million tonnes by 2010.

This was contained in the final report on the Nigerian LPG Sector Policy and Regulatory Framework Project carried out by a US Consulting Firm, Nexant Incorporated submitted to the Minister of Energy, Edmund Dakorou.

The report also estimated that as part of the measures to popularise the use of cooking gas in the country and reduce cost of the product, the Federal Government intends to promote the[b] local manufacture of five million cylinders between 2007 and 2015.[/b]

Presenting the report on behalf of the consulting firm, its Vice President, Bruce F. Burke said the sector when properly harnessed is capable of creating more than 85,000 new jobs.

He said the study covered areas like supply, gas cylinder, safety measures, manufacturing capacities, key issues of affordability of cylinders and the cooking gas itself.

Part of the challenges facing the use of cooking gas is lack of availability, high cost and safety concerns. This has led to gradual decline in its ulitilisation by Nigerians who now go for other alternatives like fire wood, kerosene and other energy sources.

Commenting on the employment opportunities offered by the sector, Burke said to increase the use of LPG significantly, there is the need to invest in facilities along the entire supply chain from the new terminal storage, to distribution facilities, to the refineries.
“This is because to get the LPG from the facility to the end users the only way is through trucks. So you need a lot more trucks, drivers, supporters and we have done the analysis''.

''To get to one million tonnes per year of LPG consumption is a tremendous increase which requires new facilities and we have estimated the number of new jobs associated with that”.

He said from the study the current consumption rate is between 50,000 to 60,000 metric tonnes per annum, which he said is very small.
On the investment required by the sector to fully achieve government’s aspiration, he said $50 million to $100 million investment will be needed to be able to get five to six million cylinders between now and 2015.

The Manager, Energy of Nexant, Dr. Larry Song, said the funding for the manufacturing of the six million cylinders will come from the government, banks and the private sector.

The Minister of Energy, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, while accepting the report recalled that President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2004 granted the allocation to the domestic market of 300,000 metric tonnes of LPG from NNPC/ExxonMobil production plant, that was earmarked for export.

He said it was meant to be a relief measure to the domestic market since the refineries that were the sole source of LPG in the country where shut down.
He said the arrangement collapsed after few months’ operation on the granted allocation due primarily to logistics problems. He stressed that government has however continued the waiver of import duty on imported LPG on annual basis in order to make the product available at an affordable price.

Daukoru said following government’s deep concern over the low level of LPG consumption in the country, it has in recent times pay more attention to the establishment of more coastal LPG depots in the country.

He said government in 2006, granted the waiver on import duty and vat on imported facilities and equipments for the establishment of a coastal depot in Lagos in order to revitalize the consumption of LPG in the country.

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Panasonic to build assembly plant in Nigeria

Electronics manufacturing gaint, Panasonic Incorporated has unveiled plans to establish an assembly plant in the country to take advantage of the growing market for its products in Nigeria.

The company which said it had secured 50 per cent of the Nigerian air conditioner market assured that based on the strength of its market in the country, it would work towards the setting up of an assembly plant in the country to take advantage of the Nigeria’s large population.

Speaking at the inauguration of Panasonic’s air conditioner parts and service centre in Abuja, the Marketing Manager, Panasonic Lagos Service Centre, Mr Haresh Ram, said the parent company was happy with the performance of the Nigerian business, hence the consideration to set up an assembly plant.

He explained that the assembly plant is part of the company's long-term business development plan aimed at harnessing markets in Africa.

According to him, the new service centre would offer after sales services to their customers, adding that the company was not only interested in selling its products but will also ensure that customers enjoy other services such as the repair of their products in case of damage.

He explained that the Abuja Panasonic Service Centre was the company’s second customer care outlet in the country in a little over one year, after the Lagos centre.
He said the company believed that doing business in Abuja would be as rewarding as the Lagos arm, adding that plans were underway to establish other centres in major cities in Nigeria to provide assistance to their customers.

He said, “For Panasonic Nigeria, we are very satisfied with the level of business we have had from our after sales service activities in Lagos. We don’t know about Abuja. We are just starting today in Abuja. So, let us hope that it is going to be encouraging for us as it has been in Lagos.”

In his address, the Managing Director, Binar Traders, Japan, Mr. Bhojraj Rupani, hinted that Panasonic intends to make a wider array of its advanced products and services to customers in Nigeria.
Such service, Rupani said, included Japanese electronic products, employment opportunities and a transfer of high technology to the Nigerian people.

Federal Ministry of Education Partners CISCO to Train 20,000 Graduates

From Josephine Lohor in Abuja, 04.05.2007

The Federal Ministry of Education and global software company, CISCO, have concluded arrangements to strengthen the skills of 20,000 Nigerian graduates towards making them employable.

Under the arrangement that was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday, Cisco that will take N3.7 billion or 84 per cent of the total cost of N4.3 billion while the Federal Government will take the remaining N684 million or 16 per cent.
The Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, who stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC, said that the number of Nigerians billed for the training was arrived at after an online survey of graduates from tertiary institutions over a 10-year period during which 29,000 graduates responded.
While describing what she termed as the unfortunate “warehousing syndrome of Nigerian graduates”, she added that out of the 29,000 respondents, over 60 per cent were found to be unemployed and underemployed.

The Minister of Education who said that a lot of countries have relied on CISCO to train their graduates, stated that “in our own case, we found out that when people talk about the new economy they refer to knowledge economy. One of the things that happen in knowledge economy is that sectors are now upgrading their knowledge base, whether it is the oil and gas or the communications sectors. It is all about capability and the capacity that you have in ICT.

So in reskilling our glut of graduates towards employability, we needed to take them through a transformation and that transformation is coming in the form of partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education and CISCO”.

Giving insight into the cost implication of the partnership between the Federal Gove-rnment and CISCO, Ezekwesili stated that “this would have been costing a significant amount if we had decided to fund it alone.
But under the partnership, CISCO will take 84 per cent of the cost and the Federal Government will take 16 per cent. For a programme that would be costing N4.3 billion, CISCO will absorb N3.7 billion and the Federal Government will be contributing N684 billion.
At the end of the exercise which will span 6 months, 12 months and 15 months certification, you can be certain that a good number of those graduates will be transformed”.

She added that “CISCO, basically is a global company known for networking and has been running CISCO Academy all over the world. Currently, there are 10,000 of such academies around the world. They do it as part of their social and corporate responsibility.
They require the country concerned to contribute into the training.

We have entered into a strategic partnership with CISCO in which CISCO and Federal Ministry of Education will take 20, 000 of the 29,000 graduates surveyed. These graduates have clearly shown that they are going nowhere and CISCO is going to run an IT re-certification Programme which is of international academic standard. Many people who have gone through this programme go oon the internet and get jobs. So it is universal certification”.

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Nigeria Exits London Club Debt

Daily Trust (Abuja)

April 6, 2007

Nigeria has paid off its London Club Debt, Finance Minister, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman, said yesterday. However, details of the country's outstanding external debt stock remains at about $ 3bn yesterday.

President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the clearing of all the country's debt before leaving office in May this year, she said.

Speaking at a press briefing on the London Club debt exit in Abuja, the minister said the process of clearing the debt was successful: "Future generations of Nigerians will not be shackled by debt."

But Nigeria's oil warrants have not been cleared by this administration, the minister said.

She said we were able to retire about 31.4 percent of the total oil warrants tendered, amounting to 369,154, at the repurchase price of about $82 million. This indicated about 70 percent of the oil warrants were uncleared.

But the minister said: "Even though we have not been able to clear the entire stock, the overall result in respect of the London Club debt exit process is excellent".

"It should also be stressed that the oil warrants themselves have no principal value. They constitute liabilities only when oil prices rise above certain level. So it may well be that our liabilities will be further reduced if oil prices fall", said Nenadi.

Mrs Usman said: "With the conclusion of this London Club debt exit process, several benefits will accrue to Nigeria including; financial savings from interest payments; cleaning up of our balance sheet; improving the country's economic profile; and removing the legacy of these debts including negative image associated with them as well as the onerous legal terms which included waiving our sovereign immunity.

The debt exit will also improve investment climate and facilitate the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment".

Duke Commissions Calabar Ultra Modern Shopping Mall(27/2/2007)

In his bid to rapidly urbanize the state capital through the provision of modern facilities, Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State has commissioned an ultra modern shopping mall in Calabar the State Capital.

Speaking at the ceremony, Duke contended that now that the state is emerging as the preferred tourists’ destination in the country, he would ensure that all a modern city requires is provided to make the city attractive to visitors.

He said that government while providing the facilities has not lost sight of environmental impact and would ensure that best environmental practices obtainable globally are adhered to in aesthetically positioning the state.

The Governor however lamented the slow implementation of Federal Government initiated Small Scale and Medium Enterprise (SME) fund which he attributed to lack of shopping outlets to display finished goods by the beneficiaries, adding that the shopping mall which he contemplates would be replicated in every community in the city to provide such opportunities for them to showcase their produce and enhance their living standards.

He maintained that given the facilities provided at the mall, visitors to the shop would fine shopping comfortable, pleasurable and leisurable.

Duke stressed that government had since last year decided to embark on the renovation of Watt Market through the provision of modern facilities in and around the market to standardize the market and expressed the hope that residence of the area would take advantage of the mall and utilize its services.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Bassey Eyo Ndem in his remark stated that the Big Qua Shopping Mall which is managed by a private firm covers a land area of about 29 x 30 square metres.

He said the idea behind the project was to raise enhanced shopping experience to both residence and tourists, adding that the allocation which is on first come, first serve basis is still in progress to interested members of the public.

Courtesy of Government House Press

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DISNEY-STYLE AMUSEMENT PARK OPENS IN ABUJA

2/2/2007

From Dele Anofi

Holiday makers, old and young need not look beyond our shores as a sprawling world-class amusement park is set to change the skyline and the architectural background of Abuja and provide the people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs quality leisure time.

Wonderland Amusement Park and Resort Centre, the brainchild of Abuja- based Lebanese entrepreneur Fawzy Fawaz, is situated on 400,000 square meters expanse of land and strategically positioned between the National Stadium, Ministry of Finance quarters and the National Hospital.

The amusement park, is of international standard in both concept and design with technical input from the International Amusement Parks Association based in the United States of America (USA).

The park, which is due for commissioning soon is already generating lots of interests in the city because of the eye-popping facilities that adorn the complex.

Right from the beautifully designed road leading to the gate of the park, a visitor’s heartbeat is bound to quicken with the kinds of feelings the whole environment exudes.

The kind of service and experience that awaits a visitor to the park is impressed on the consciousness of the visitor from the entrance, where a striking structure called the Wonderland castle stands majestically and at the same time menacingly, taking the visitor to the ancient times of 16th century Egypt.

The arcades are stuffed with all kinds of video and other computerised games while several weird-looking and fast moving train and ship rides including crazy clowns are sites to hold any visitor spellbound for hours.

Adults who may want to have fun on the fast lane can do so on "the flying tower".

The spacious amusement park routes were paved and carefully landscaped also well equipped with the latest security apparatus, health and communication facilities .

FG to spend $5 billion in 3 years on education — Minister

By Emmanuel Edukugho
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

LAGOS—THE Federal Government has set aside N600b ($5 billion) as presidential intervention fund for education in the next three years, Education Minister, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili said in Lagos yesterday at the opening of a workshop on Tertiary Education Financing at the University of Lagos.

Vice Chancellors, rectors, provosts from universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education from across the country are attending the 2-day workshop. She said that 43% of the N600b will be for direct intervention at the tertiary level.

According to her: “Just as the power sector is getting a new deal, the education sector also gets a new deal.”

Ezekwesili added that another N1 billion competitive research grant has been provided to be disbursed from May, 2007 to enable Nigerian lecturers get funding for research and “build the broken walls that used to be citadels of knowledge.”

According to her, every lecturer will be given a laptop to be paid for by government jointly with the lecturers themselves in instalments to facilitate acquisition and usage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) which will become compulsory.

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$700 million Refinery in Anambra to reduce fuel scarcity

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007

Managing Director of Orient Petroleum Resources Nnaemeka Nwawka says a refinery to be built by the company will reduce fuel scarcity.

Giving a situation report on the project at a session with Anambra state executive council today in Awka, Nwawka said that construction of the refinery would gulp $660 million.

When completed, he said that the refinery would create employment, provide a stable social system and fast track development of infrastructure in Anambra.

To ensure peaceful co-existence with host communities, he said that town unions and youth organisations in host communities would be involved in the execution of the project.

At the session, Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra said that the state government was taking steps to establish levels of commitment towards the project.

It was learnt that the proposed refinery would be located at Otuocha in Anambra East local government.

It would be executed in partnership with a Chinese firm that would bankroll 85 per cent of the cost of the project.

The proposed refinery would have an airstrip, staff quarters and a subsidiary firm that treats waste products.

FG Provides $1.2 billion for Textile Sector

From Kunle Aderinokun in Abuja, 04.27.2007

Determined to revive the comatose textile industry, Federal Government announced yesterday that it has approved a new N80 billion fund for on lending to the operators and farmers. This is addition to the N50 billion earlier approved by the Federal Government for the sam

Politics › Re: Pictures Of Poverty In Europe And America, That Cnn Or Bbc Wont Show! by Jen33(m): 6:01pm On May 06, 2007

Reverend said:

Show the good things happening in Nigeria then

My pleasure, Reverend.

World Press Comments on Nigerian developments

- Building confidence -
Big challenges remain for President Obasanjo’s reforming administration, but investor belief in Africa’s most populous nation is growing

http://www.worldreport-ind.com/nigeria2/index.htm

A potent mixture of oil, democracy and reform has been transforming the fortunes of Africa’s most populous country. Once a military dictatorship regarded as a pariah state, Nigeria now boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is on the way to becoming the powerhouse of the continent.

Growing international confidence in the West African country is reflected in recent assessments from international observers.

Ratings by the global agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s have placed Nigeria in the same category as emerging economies such as Brazil, Venezuela, Turkey and the Philippines.

Both agencies cite the commitment to reform of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s federal government, together with last year’s decision by the Paris Club of creditors to lift the country’s crippling burden of external debt, as key reasons for taking a positive view of the future. All eyes will be on Nigeria next year, hoping that the economic reform programme will be continued in the years following the 2007 elections.

The analysts forecast that economic prospects will improve even more when further progress is made in tackling the political and social challenges that the nation faces. Indeed, a Goldman Sachs report has suggested that if Nigeria sticks to its reform agenda, it will overtake South Africa and Egypt to become Africa’s strongest economy and by 2020 could become one of the 25 largest economies in the world.

The vital energy sector continues to develop rapidly, with the coming onstream of huge new deepwater oil and gas fields. Prospects look good for achieving the government’s objective of raising production from 2.6 million barrels per day to four million, and the high price of crude is keeping up oil revenues despite problems in the Niger Delta.

Obasanjo’s reform agenda has set Nigeria on course to become the strongest economy in Africa.

One of the most important challenges the government needs to meet is to ensure that Nigeria’s oil wealth is shared fairly. This has been underlined by the recent outbreak of kidnapping and damage to oil facilities in the Delta. The swampy region in the southwest is the main source of Nigeria’s oil revenues and, at the same time, one of the most impoverished parts of the country.

As demonstrated by the subsequent production shutdowns, there is the potential here for disruption of the most vital sector of Nigeria’s economy, not to mention the global oil supply. Oil accounts for around a quarter of GDP, more than 90 per cent of the total foreign exchange and nearly 80 per cent of government revenues.

In this context, the work of the Niger Delta Development Commission, which recently launched a masterplan to accelerate development and combat poverty in the area, is of not only local, but national and even international importance.

Another, and associated, issue is that of ‘local content’, in particular the extent of indigenous involvement in the oil and gas industry. Nigeria is reckoned to be losing a massive £4.6 billion annually through the awarding of lucrative oil service contracts to foreign firms.

The government is putting extra pressure on the multinational oil companies to utilise significant local content in terms of materials and services in the development and operation of their concessions. It is also bolstering indigenous participation in other key sectors of the economy.

An increasing number of Nigerian oil services firms are proving they have the ability to take on major contracts. At the same time steps are being taken to provide the training required for more Nigerians – especially the unemployed youth – to join the oil sector workforce.

On the political front, President Obasanjo, currently in his second term, has won praise for his economic, political and social reforms and anti-corruption campaign. Crucially his policies are encouraging foreign investment into the economy, and not just in the oil and gas sector; non-oil sectors are also expanding rapidly.

[Former] Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala says, “Our efforts have been rewarded by an inflow of foreign direct investment, estimated at $3 billion (£1.7 billion)a year in the non-oil sector.”

The non-oil GDP growth rate was 8 per cent last year, signalling that measures to diversify are working.

Overall, the economy expanded 8.2 per cent in 2005, while growth of 10 per cent is targeted for 2006.

Government spending this year will be focused on human and physical infrastructure to develop power, roads, water supply, agriculture, education, health and security.

Approximately £2.6 billion has been earmarked for the implementation of capital projects all over the country, including the building of new power plants.

Vice President Atiku Abubakar argues that Nigeria is now a stable country where risks for investors are now minimal. “In the past six years, we have pursued our economic reforms with vigour and tremendous success. Returns on investment here are the highest in Africa,” he says.

Security Boost: FG spends N12b on 2,500 police patrol vehicles

Tordue Salem
Saturday, April 14, 2007

Abuja — The Presidential committee on Police equipment, weekend displayed the first batch of about 2,500 patrol vehicles to be presented to the Police by President Olusegun Obasanjo Monday.

The BMW, Ford patrol jeeps and 4-wheel-drive trucks, imported into the Country a few days ago, are to be presented to men of the force, by President Obasanjo and the Inspector-General of police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero.

The National Coordinator of the Police Equipment Fund (PEF), Mr. Kenny Martins, told journalists that[b] “the investigation trucks, which were bought at the minimum of N5million each, cost a total of N12billion”[/b]

Mr. Martins who is the National Secretary of the National Democratic Party (NDP), but also working for the PDP Presidential candidate Umar Musa Yar’Adua, told journalists that “the patrol vehicles would go round the 36 states of the Federation”

Martins doused the fears of Nigerians that the vehicles would end up as “private property of some top government people.”

“These cars are not going to end up with anybody, they are for the police” he clarified.

The NDP chieftain, said “Every vehicle that is here will eventually be tracked in the tracker system, so that they will not be diverted for private use”.

He said the Presidency in making the purchases, “dealt with reputable brands like Ford, BMW, Rover, and Toyota and 15% of the vehicle parts came with the cars, and you know that the parts wouldn’t be a problem, because most of the parts can be found here” said he.

Obasanjo to open ‘Outsourcing Conference’

March 5th, 2007

President Olusegun Obasanjo will declare open Nigeria's first International Outsourcing Conference in Abuja scheduled to hold from March 21 - March 23, 2007.

IHEANYI NWACHUKWU

The conference is part of the Federal Government's efforts to launch the country's National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS).

Following a year of research and preparation, the government has appointed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as responsible for the execution of the national strategy.

NITDA has partnered with AITEC Africa, as the leader in ICT conferences across the continent, to host the first International Outsourcing conference in Nigeria.

One of the highlights of the conference will be the launching of the National Outsourcing Association.

It will also be the first time that Nigeria will be officially positioning itself as an outsourcing destination to the rest of the world.

Following the government's lead, Dimension Data announced its support for the conference as lead sponsor. The Nigeria International Outsourcing Conference will provide a marketing and education platform to promote outsourcing as an industry in Nigeria. It will bring together all stakeholders, locally and internationally, to lay the foundation for a Nigerian outsourcing industry.

"The Nigeria International Outsourcing Conference will provide practical business and technology briefings to empower resellers, service providers and users to maximize their returns on the increasing investment that they will be making in the outsourcing sector over the coming years," said Sean Moroney, chairman of AITEC Africa[i]."By providing a platform for vendors, service providers and users to network and share knowledge, the conference will act as a catalyst to continue the momentum established by NITDA"[/i].

"The event will include a two-day conference and practical implementation workshops on the third day. Topics to be covered in the conference include: outsourcing challenges and opportunities, international linkages, contact centre strategies & technologies, BPO implementation, capacity building, setting goals for future growth, business opportunities showcase", said Sean.

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LAGOS INTRODUCES FREE HEALTH PROGRAMME

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Jide Idris has said that from Monday, 12th March, 2007 the state government will commence free health services to all Lagosians.

Addressing a press conference to kick-start the Eko Free Health Programme, Dr. Idris said the free health programme would start from Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, in the Lagos West Senatorial district from Monday, 12th to Friday, 16th March, 2007.

Dr. Idris said the programme would include free consultation and treatment of various ailments, including surgical operations for the correction of hernia, appendix, abdominal swelling, lumps, gynecological problems, among others, adding that there would also be screening for and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, eye diseases and dental problems.

He urged corporate and non governmental organizations to partner with the government to improve health care delivery in the state.

Nigerian Company Acquires Stakes in UK company.

Shoreline Acquires Costain West Africa

By Crusoe Osagie, 03.12.2007

Shoreline Energy International Ltd. has acquired controlling interests of Costain Group Plc UK in Costain West Africa Plc., making it the new owner of the construction firm.

Managing Director of Shoreline Energy International, Mr. Kola Karim, described the acquisition as central to his company’s strategy of becoming the leading infrastructure solution provider in Africa.

“This is the second big acquisition we have made in West Africa in the last two years and it is in line with our goal of becoming the foremost infrastructure solution provider on the continent”, Karim said.

He disclosed that a technical service agreement is in place with Costain Group Plc UK to continue to support Costain West Africa Plc’s various projects across West Africa.

“We already have substantial stakes in the infrastructure sector in East Africa and will be in the same position in Southern Africa when we complete a major acquisition which is at an advanced stage of negotiations,” Karim added.

Managing Director of Costain West Africa Plc, Mr. Phillip Wharton, also said the divestment by Costain Group Plc, will not impact negatively on the operations of the company.

He expressed optimism that Shoreline would bring vigour, new ideas and much needed investment into Costain West Africa Plc which will enable the company to re-strategise in order to regain its position as the leading engineering company in the region.

“I am excited at having Shoreline Energy International on board. Over the last few months working on this acquisition, I have been impressed by the energy, dynamism, commitment and ideas of Shoreline Energy International. I am convinced their presence will make a huge difference to Costain West Africa Plc”, he stated.

Shoreline already has substantial investment in Nigeria. In 2005, its subsidiary, Shoreline Power Company Limited, acquired the manufacturing arm of ABB Nigeria, ABB Electrical Systems Limited, making it the only Original Equipment Manu-facturer (OEM) for ABB products in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The company’s focus has been on power distribution infrastructure development in Africa and through another subsidiary, Agbara Shoreline Power Company, it is also building an 100MW power plant in Agbara Estate.

Shoreline Energy International also has substantial interests in the telecommunications sector through its subsidiary, Fortis Construction Limited.

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Indonesian firm to build ‘cities’ in Nigeria

March 11th, 2007

Barring last-minute hitches, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt will be beneficiaries of ultra-modern city developments, compliments of an Indonesian firm.

VINCENT CHUKS IGBINEDION

The firm, Ciputra Group, has already made a series of visits to Nigeria and has had discussions with government officials on the feasibility of establishing the projects in the country.

Charles Okoye, managing director/chief executive officer of UBN Property Co. Ltd, in an exclusive chat with BusinessDay in Lagos, says the firm has a universal reputation for self-contained city development and the founder of the company, Ir. Ciputra, is highly excited at the prospects of investment in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

According to Okoye, Ciputra discussed the prospects of the project at a congress of the International Real Estate Federation. This followed a country tour to Nigeria by the immediate past president of the federation, Dato’ Alan Tong Kok Mau, last year.

Alan Tong, a Malaysian popularly called the Condo King (he is said to own about 80 percent of the condos in Malaysia), had during the visit advised that city developments in Nigeria should henceforth be vertical, that is, developers should concentrate on high-rise buildings rather than the conventional low-rise buildings that dot the cityscape. He made the recommendation bearing in mind the cost of land, especially in such cities as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Ciputra Group is a consortium established in 1984 for the specific purpose of planning, developing and managing the Bumi Serpong Damai new city project on 6,000 hectare site located south west of Jakarta — the first self-contained city.

Okoye, who is the Africa regional president of the federation, says the group specialises in large-scale developments, starting from 4,000 hectares of land. He adds that officials of the firm have had series of discussions with Nigerian embassy officials in Jakarta, before they met at the real estate forum. The real estate federation is an association of professionals in the industry with headquarters in France.

The current president, Owen Gwyn, has confirmed the interest of the Indonesian company in the development projects.

This development is coming after the Malaysian Gardens Project, a large-scale city development programme being executed in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Also last year, developers of The Paddocks, an N18-billion self-contained upper-end estate, unveiled the project. It was funded 80 percent by an Italian firm.

Founded in 1981 by Ciputra and members of his immidiate family, the Ciputra Group pioneered housing development adjacent to Jakarta International Airport.

It specialises in large-scale, integrated projects; combining housing, commercial and recreational centres, and mixed-use developments including hotel, shopping and office-complexes. The Ciputra Group went public in 1994.

Giving Lagos Island a facelift

By Jude Njoku & Kingsley Adegboye

Posted to the Web: Monday, March 12, 2007

Lagos Island is unarguably the hottest business district in the country. The district which houses the tallest buildings competing for visibility was the toast of property investors and other blue chip companies until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Reason? The area decayed so terribly that many of these corporate organizations that had their head offices in the district soon started relocating to Victoria Island and South West Ikoyi.

The menacing activities of street urchins popularly called area boys and street traders compounded the environmental problems of the city centre. Persistent calls for action by the Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment (LIMGE) and similar non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the government to check the downward slide in the fortunes of the CBD fell on deaf ears until recently when the state government embarked upon massive redevelopment of the Island. Lagos Island stakeholders who spoke on the impact of the ongoing rehabilitation project thumbed up the government.

Property values begin to appreciate

Prior to the ongoing redevelopment of Lagos Island, most banks and blue chip companies relocated their head offices to Abuja, Victoria Island and South West Ikoyi. The situation was so bad that most high-rise buildings in the Business District became virtually unoccupied.

Property owners in the area under the aegis of the Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment (LIMGE), cried out to the state government to commence a redevelopment of the city centre and check the excesses of miscreants popularly called area boys. Their plea initially fell on deaf ears until the government flagged off the present renewal effort.

Second Vice President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Osita Okoli said the situation is now changing and property values are going up again.

He was answering a question on whether the menace of the street urchins will not jeopardize the current renewal efforts and what impact the redevelopment will have on property values. Hear him:

“Most definitely, properties will appreciate. To start with, the major reason why properties depreciated in Lagos Island wasn’t because of the human factor; it wasn’t because of activities of area boys and their menacing impact on the society; It was because the area was blighted. The streets were almost impassable due to many street sellers.''

" So, I am confident that upon the conclusion of the renewal efforts being undertaken by the Lagos State government in providing roads, drainages and such other infrastructure, Lagos Island will be given a rebirth. Property values are in fact already on the upward swing. Rentals in this property have increased and I expect that rentals will increase on other properties as well.''

" It is just a matter of management. The current construction of roads and drains will enhance the management of such people because if the law enforcement agents are trying to track or chase them, it would be easier to get them when the roads are passable than when they are impassable''.

Is there a glut of vacant properties in Lagos Island? This was the question VF put to Mr. Okoli and he responded thus:

''To the best of my knowledge, there are still some fallow buildings, but they are being snapped up. But I can tell you that as the development progresses and people begin to see the impact the development is making, many of the banks and financial institutions that have moved to Victoria Island may reconsider and come back to Lagos Island because Lagos Island will be easier to access. It is nearer to the mainland; it is more central and traffic would be easier to manage. In fact, Lagos Island has a more beautiful view. Look at the lagoon just there. I can tell you, Lagos Island is coming back to life”.

The state government

Lagos State Government at the weekend assured that the ongoing facelift of roads which is the first stage of the government’s redevelopment programme of the Central Business District (CBD) in Lagos Island is expected to be completed in the next two months.

The second stage which is the construction of shopping malls with entertainment complexes and more office towers is also expected to commence immediately.

Speaking to our correspondent, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Francisco Abosede said the completion period for the road work which commenced in October 2005, was 18 months which is supposed to come to an end in April this year.

The Commissioner who said street traders in the CBD will be moved out to allow for free flow of traffic on the upgraded roads, also noted that the state government has plans to engage the touts popularly known as Area Boys in the area in order to get rid of area boys’ activities in the Island, explaining that the government will train them in different kinds of craft works so that they can become useful to themselves and their society.

He noted that the government already has a centre for the training of area boys to artisans. :lol:

Explaining that the economic potentials of the CBD will be further boosted with more investors coming to the area after the completion of the redevelopment programme of the Island, he said the companies that left the area because of its previous deplorable condition have started returning to the CBD because[b] “they are seeing things happening in the area”[/b] Abosede noted.

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FG Mobilises for Made-in-Nigeria Satellite

From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.13.2007

The Federal Government yesterday assembled the cream of the country's engineering community and space technology researchers in Abuja to brainstorm on how to develop local capacity in the design, manufacture and launch of a space satellite within the shortest possible time.

The event, which was organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, brought together distinguished university scholars, Nigerians in Diaspora and private consultants to work out modalities for the actualisation of the country's dream of a wholly Nigerian-built space satellite by 2018.

Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun who was represented by the Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. A. Adejumo said government's heavy investment in space satellite technology clearly demonstrates its commitment to the development of space technology and subsequent application to hasten our socio-economic progress.

He said government's interest was emboldened by the success story of the first satellite, NigeriaSat-1 which has since its launch in 2003 contributed immensely to national development.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had while unveiling the country's space technology road map directed that NASRDA should work towards grooming Nigerians to become space astronauts in the next 15 years.

Nigeria launched its first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, an earth-observation satellite in 2003, and is currently engaged in the execution of two other satellite projects, NigeriaSat-2 and Nigeria communications satellite - NigcomSat.

However, all of these efforts are being carried out outside the shores of the country under a foreign technical assistance programme with China.

Isoun said acquiring satellite technology is of great strategic importance to any country, adding it is for this reason that the government has taken up the challenge to mobilise our human capital to acquire and sustain the space technology.

Speaking at the research workshop, NASRDA Director-General, Professor Robert Boroffice said the objective of the national space technology programme is to make space research and development activities part of the overall strategies for sustainable development.

He said the purpose of the workshop was to explore areas of research collaboration with Nigerian universities to develop local expertise for the development of a satellite locally in line with the presidential charge of having a manned mission on the moon by 2025.

NIGERIA 'ON COURSE' FOR 10,000 MW POWER IN 2007

Quote:
The Minister of State for Energy, Ahmed Abdulhamid, has disclosed that efforts were being intensified to ensure that the Paplanto and Omotosho 335MW power stations in Ogun and Ondo states respectively came on stream by April 2007, while adding another 670MW to the national grid.

The Minister made this known while addressing the Press after an inspection tour of the two power stations last week.

He assured that “We are doing everything possible to monitor the activities of the contractors in order to fast-track the process. Also the 10,000MW target for 2007 is on course”.

He expressed regrets that vandalizing gas pipelines and transmission lines posed a great threat to the stable supply of electricity in the country and then called on all Nigerians to wage a total war against those perceived enemies of progress, while equally urging Nigerians to conserve energy by switching off appliances when not needed.

On the recent interconnection power project of 80MW between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, he explained that it was part of a sub-regional cooperation Agreement aimed at power sufficiency within the sub-region under the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

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NEPC launches Nigeria into global outsourcing industry, targets $10 billion per annum.

By Franklin Alli
Posted to the Web: Thursday, March 15, 2007

The Special Adviser to the President/CEO Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Modupe Sasore, said the Council has created a platform that will enable the country to net $10 billion (about N1.3 trillion ) as revenue annually, from the global Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing (IT BPO).
The global outsourcing Industry is estimated to be worth $150-310 billion, generating over 400,000 jobs.

Sasore said the Council is executing the project through Hudson Consulting Group USA, and Tathya Dot Com India who has an outsourcing company with offices in the United States and India, to outsource to Nigeria through a newly established Nigerian company named Business Outsourcing Solution and Services (BOSS Nigeria).

BPO is the contracting firm of some specific business tasks such as a call centre to a third -party, a service provider, while the company focuses on its core business. The outfit requires the software, the process management and the staff to operate the service.

It depends on Information Technology, hence it is referred to as IT BPO. Comparative analysis showed that while South Africa has a vibrant BPO industry with 80,000 staff and 70 companies offering services, and wants to boost this by creating another 100,000 jobs in this sector over the next five years, India, USA controls 59 per cent of the market, Europe 27 per cent, India who netted 36 billion revenues from the sector in 2006, control 5-6 per cent share of the total BPO industry. Philippines, and China have also emerged to take a share of the market.

Describing the sector as very lucrative, Sasore, said “Indeed, the potential of a thriving outsourcing industry in Nigeria is very possible particularly with the recent launching of the Outsourcing initiative by the Federal Government. This will go a long way in kick-starting the growth in the non-oil sector of the economy,” she remarked.

The country, she pointed out, has abundant skilled human capital in IT and Internet Service knowledge that can be easily harnessed to deliver outstanding service export, stressing that the timing of the launching of the outsourcing initiative is most apt since it constitutes the basic ingredient that could and should ginger the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians both at home and abroad as well as attracting the much needed foreign direct investment in the IT sub-sector.

Nigeria, she affirmed, is actually better positioned in terms of cultural fit, adaptability, spoken English as well as potential cost savings for customers.

“It was in our attempt to take advantage of this opportunity that culminated in the launching of this project aimed at facilitating the creation of the business process outsourcing industry in Nigeria.

The objective of the project is to among other things, develop a strategy and implementation plan that will enable Nigeria establish a new export product in the area of flourishing IT outsourcing, thereby making Nigeria an outsourcing destination for IT BPO in Africa.''

It is also intended at diversifying the non-oil sub-sector of the Nigerian economy by developing and promoting another product for export. ''The short and long term goal of the project is to create more jobs and earn foreign exchange for Nigeria.” she said.

Also speaking , Executive Vice President, Hudson Consulting Group USA, Mr. Tom Iseghohi, who said the sector demands: First world infrastructure, international connectivity, sophiscated financial services industry, international finance, legal and security compliance and cultural affinity of agents, including time zone affinity to Europe and multilingual staff and leadership and work ethics, said BOSS Nigeria has met all these requirements and is ready to begin business May 2007.

BOSS Nigeria is already registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, has secured three 78 million dollars contract, which will be executed in the next five years.

He also foresees the possibility of the company to be quoted on the Nigeria stock Exchange (NSE), after 18 months in operation.

FG awards $3.5 billion contract to ease power failure

March 20th, 2007

A N445-billion ($3.46-billion) contract has been awarded for the construction of the Mambilla hydro power project to improve power supply in the country.

EJIOFOR ALIKE

Edmund Daukoru, minister of energy, said this yesterday in Lagos at the 2007 oil and gas seminar organised by the Institute of Directors of Nigeria.
Daukoru said the contract for Lot 1 of the project, which would cost N187.6-billion ($1.46-billion), had been awarded to a Chinese firm, while an additional N257-billion ($2-billion) would be required for the completion of the project.

The minister, who was represented by Jafaru ****, special adviser to the president on petroleum resources, said the Lot 1, which covered civil works and hydraulic steel structures, would be completed in 64 months.
The energy boss said the hydro-electric power project would generate 2,600 megawatts of electricity when completed.

The minister said the Federal Government had spent over N771-billion ($6-billion) on power plants, while N45.8-billion had been expended on rural electrification from 1999 to date with N23.3-billion earmarked for rural electrification agency in 2007.

He said 1,946 rural electrification projects were continuing, with 836 communities already covered, adding that 445 projects would be completed before May this year.

The equipment for the construction of the power plants at Gbarain, Egbema, Sapele, Ihovbor and Calabar have been discharged at Onne and Calabar ports.

According to him, N81-billion has been invested in the distribution of electricity, with the construction of 1,701 kilometres of new 33kv lines; 2,666km of new 11kv lines; 3,540 MVA new sub-station capacity, and 22, 598 new transformers.

He maintained that the over 250 contracts being executed in more than 600 project sites had provided employment to 100,000 people, adding that the power projects had created jobs in the Niger-Delta area.

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Nigeria to Earn $10bn Annually from Gas Projects – Kupolokun

From Chika Amanze-Nwachuku and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.21.2007

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Funsho Kupolokun yesterday disclosed that Nigeria would earn well over $10 billion annually when the various gas projects embarked upon would have come on stream.

Speaking at the opening of the 2007 Offshore West Africa oil and gas conference holding in Abuja, Kupolokun said, the gas sector has recorded tremendous successes such that from a mere 197mmcf per day in 1999, the country has moved to 5billion mmcf with a projection of about 20bn cfpd by 2010.

He stated that the first phase of the West African Gas Project, which was aimed at supplying natural gas to Republics of Benin, Togo, and Ghana, has been completed and would be commissioned in the first week of April by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

"The project holds a capacity of 200million standard cubic feet per day with a potential of 500million scfd that would supply natural gas to Benin , Togo , and Ghana" .

The NNPC boss also disclosed that the corporation is to spend between $10 and $11bn on counterpart funding for annual oil and gas investments estimated at about $29.4bn, adding that it would amount to double of its current level of $5.5 billion.

Production has grown from 1.2million barrels per day in 1992 to 3million bpd under the current dispensation, representing a growth of four per cent per annum, he said.
"Here we are talking of an explosion, the domestic gas sector in 1993, we were talking of 324mmcf and by 1999 when this administration came, it dropped down to 197mmcf per day. But since the inception of the civillian administration, the volume has risen to 5 billion standard cubic feet per day. The growth is
such that by 2010 - 2011, we should be talking about
20 billion mmcf per day", he said.

According to him, the prospect for increased gas pricing in
Europe and America is driving up demand for LNG
products from Nigeria while the unprecedented
development in the country's power sector is another
source of improved earnings from gas.

The GMD who alluded the rising profile of gas in the
country's economy to the various strategic
transformations spear-headed by government, said even
the gas industry appeared to have been taken unawares
by the fast growth in demand for gas.

Kupolokun listed some the gas projects expected to
deliver enormous revenue to the country to include,
Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Olokola Liquefied
Natural Gas, West African Gas Pipeline, Escravos Gas
to Liquid project and Trans Saharan Gas Pipeline.

The NNPC boss said the Final Investment Decision on
the Brass LNG will be taken by first week of April,
while that of OKLNG will come up before the end the
year.
The GMD noted that tremendous successes have been recorded in various deep water projects like; Usan, Agbami and Apo, saying by the time these projects would come on stream, the country's new targets of 4.5million bpd and 40billion barrels reserve would have been more than achieved, even as it is producing about 2.4million bpd of its installed capacity of 3million bpd.

Kupolokun however lauded the[b] Local Content Policy[/b] of the federal government, stating that the bill is currently before the National Assembly.

Speaking on the effort of the company to
bridge the expected funding gap for joint venture
projects, he said, NNPC has successfully initiated a
stable funding structure that would enable the
organisation fill the gap of about $5bn by next year.
He disclosed that the company is about launching a major
initiative aimed ensuring a stable funding structure
to take care of the shortfall from government's
contribution to the running of the JV operations in
the oil and gas industry.
Although, he did not give further details on the
nature of the fund, Kupolokun said the arrangement
will see NNPC creating a window for ready source of
funds for its JV activities.

Starcomms introduces 'Pay as you surf' to Nigeria.

Internet use and data downloading has become a lot easier as Starcomms Limited, one of Nigeria's largest CDMA 3G Mobile networks, has delivered on its promise to empower Nigerians through consistent provision of customized and innovative telecommunication solutions.

The company introduced a new service known as 'Pay As You Surf' which provides subscribers a more flexible and unlimited access to the internet in a most price-friendly manner.

The customer just loads a normal recharge card to browse and will be billed on per minute basis. That means that the subscriber will only pay for the time he/she connected to the net. The new service requires the purchase of a data pack which contains the connecting cable, CD and information describing how the subscriber will activate the service in any Starcomms' CDMA internet-compliant handset and computer.

This service will cost a nominal N1,000 one-off activation fee payment. With options of N7.40 per minute during peak time and N5.00 per minute during off-peak, the customer surfs at his/her convenience and pays for the exact usage. There are no monthly subscriptions, but the subscriber enjoys unlimited access as long as there is sufficient credit in his account.

To activate the service, all the subscriber needs to do is visit any Starcomms shop, request for Pay As You Surf data service, fill a data subscription form, pay N1,000 activation fee and the service is activated within 24 hours after completing the request.

Mobiles and fixed wireless phone users all top up their Data PAYS Account with a normal recharge card, while for first time activation, the subscriber has to access the IVR dialing *999*. All subsequent recharges can be done by simply following the instructions behind the Starcomms recharge card.

In addition, a Pay As You Surf subscriber can share the same credit account for voice and data. The subscriber can surf the internet or make voice calls as long as there is sufficient credit in the account, and the subscriber can keep using the service by simply topping the account when low by loading a recharge card.

Starcomms' Commercial Director, Mr. Prakash Pantham, who confirmed the development, said it was borne out of the need to give subscribers different options on accessing the internet, adding that it is a demonstration of the firm's expertise in maximizing new technologies to meet customers' needs.

"It is the endeavour of the company to constantly innovate and introduce services and products to cater to each segment of the market. This innovative service will bring the internet much closer to the common man, allowing easy and affordable access to the world-wide web".

He added that the new service, one of many to be introduced, is in partial fulfillment of Starcomms' promise to build a solid network for voice and data to cater for the needs of its existing and potential subscribers.

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FG to Build Satellite Centre in Abuja

From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 03.23.2007

The Federal Government yesterday said it had granted approval for the construction of two satellite development centres to be located in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The centres to be known as Satellite Design Centre (SDC) and Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Centre (AITC) are to provide a critical infrastructure base for training Nigerian space engineers and scientists and to groom them for the task of building satellites in the country.

The Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Robert Ajayi Boroffice, who disclosed this at the opening a one-day space science workshop for the media in Abuja, said President Olusegun Obasanjo has given the go-ahead for the establishment of a satellite development centre to enable Nigerian engineers design, build, launch and manage our satellites in orbit.

Against the background of the renewed impetus being given to space technology, government said it has completed the building of Nigerian Communication satellite and would launch it by May 12.
Borofiice said in furtherance of the country's aspiration to develop an in-country capacity in the field of space technology, a Nigerian-built satellite would be launched in 2009 along with the NigeriaSat-2.

He said the construction of the Nigerian satellite is being undertaken by 25 Nigerian engineers presently on a government sponsored study in Surrey in the United Kingdom.

NASRDA D-G also said the construction of the agency's
permanent site had been completed and would be
commissioned next month ahead of the launching of
the communication satellite.

Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner
Isoun, while declaring the workshop open said the
launching of the communication satellite has been
fixed for May 12.
He said the satellite device has already commenced its journey to the site where the eventual launch into orbit will be performed in the Chinese city of Siyan. The Minister said ahead of the formal launch, the communication satellite has already transmitted well
over 2000 images to its ground base in Abuja.

Isoun said the facility is equipped with 26 transponders to aid communication anywhere in Africa.
"The satellite is also positioned to provide comprehensive transmission services via digital or analogue system, operate same
by either fixed or mobile satellite, direct broadcast satellite services, end-to-end solution and engage in transponder leasing.", he said.

The building of the communication satellite project, supported by a $200m credit facility from EXIM Bank of China will provide a wide range of innovative solutions to challenges facing communication
networking in Nigeria and the African continent.

Boroffice said the cost of the design and manufacture of the country's first ever communication satellite, NIGCOMSAT-1 is $450 million.

He said the cost estimate includes that of manufacturing the satellite equipment, building of the ground station and sponsoring staff training.

The D-G said the advent of a wholly owned satellite facility by an African nation has put an end to the continent's dependence on outsiders for its needs.

Borofice said shortly after the launching of the facility, it would be handed over to be managed by a commercial entity known as NIGCOMSAT Nigeria Limited which will undertake marketing and selling of bandwidths and other services of the satellite.

The D-G said NASRDA is currently engaged in some pilot service delivery effort to institutions including the University of Abuja where it using its facility to link the institution's study centre to the main campus in Gwagwalada and assisting the Federal Ministry of Health to be in touch with its Primary health centres via satellite.

He said the agency is also planning to link the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and that of University of Ibadan to some health clinic centre in the remote villages to enable them attend to patients through video conferencing.

Sudanese company, El-RASID Electronic Trading Company
limited yesterday became the first African entity to
buy into the satellite project, staking $200m as
equity holding on the facility.

The Dubai-based firm also put down $50m as advance
payment to purchase 10 out of the forty transponders
offered by the communication payload.

Cooking Gas: FG Targets 1m Tonnes By 2010

From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 03.27.2007

The Federal Government yesterday unveiled a strategy for raising LPG (cooking gas) from the present 60,000 tonnes annual consumption to one million tonnes by 2010.

This was contained in the final report on the Nigerian LPG Sector Policy and Regulatory Framework Project carried out by a US Consulting Firm, Nexant Incorporated submitted to the Minister of Energy, Edmund Dakorou.

The report also estimated that as part of the measures to popularise the use of cooking gas in the country and reduce cost of the product, the Federal Government intends to promote the[b] local manufacture of five million cylinders between 2007 and 2015.[/b]

Presenting the report on behalf of the consulting firm, its Vice President, Bruce F. Burke said the sector when properly harnessed is capable of creating more than 85,000 new jobs.

He said the study covered areas like supply, gas cylinder, safety measures, manufacturing capacities, key issues of affordability of cylinders and the cooking gas itself.

Part of the challenges facing the use of cooking gas is lack of availability, high cost and safety concerns. This has led to gradual decline in its ulitilisation by Nigerians who now go for other alternatives like fire wood, kerosene and other energy sources.

Commenting on the employment opportunities offered by the sector, Burke said to increase the use of LPG significantly, there is the need to invest in facilities along the entire supply chain from the new terminal storage, to distribution facilities, to the refineries.
“This is because to get the LPG from the facility to the end users the only way is through trucks. So you need a lot more trucks, drivers, supporters and we have done the analysis''.

''To get to one million tonnes per year of LPG consumption is a tremendous increase which requires new facilities and we have estimated the number of new jobs associated with that”.

He said from the study the current consumption rate is between 50,000 to 60,000 metric tonnes per annum, which he said is very small.
On the investment required by the sector to fully achieve government’s aspiration, he said $50 million to $100 million investment will be needed to be able to get five to six million cylinders between now and 2015.

The Manager, Energy of Nexant, Dr. Larry Song, said the funding for the manufacturing of the six million cylinders will come from the government, banks and the private sector.

The Minister of Energy, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, while accepting the report recalled that President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2004 granted the allocation to the domestic market of 300,000 metric tonnes of LPG from NNPC/ExxonMobil production plant, that was earmarked for export.

He said it was meant to be a relief measure to the domestic market since the refineries that were the sole source of LPG in the country where shut down.
He said the arrangement collapsed after few months’ operation on the granted allocation due primarily to logistics problems. He stressed that government has however continued the waiver of import duty on imported LPG on annual basis in order to make the product available at an affordable price.

Daukoru said following government’s deep concern over the low level of LPG consumption in the country, it has in recent times pay more attention to the establishment of more coastal LPG depots in the country.

He said government in 2006, granted the waiver on import duty and vat on imported facilities and equipments for the establishment of a coastal depot in Lagos in order to revitalize the consumption of LPG in the country.

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Panasonic to build assembly plant in Nigeria

Electronics manufacturing gaint, Panasonic Incorporated has unveiled plans to establish an assembly plant in the country to take advantage of the growing market for its products in Nigeria.

The company which said it had secured 50 per cent of the Nigerian air conditioner market assured that based on the strength of its market in the country, it would work towards the setting up of an assembly plant in the country to take advantage of the Nigeria’s large population.

Speaking at the inauguration of Panasonic’s air conditioner parts and service centre in Abuja, the Marketing Manager, Panasonic Lagos Service Centre, Mr Haresh Ram, said the parent company was happy with the performance of the Nigerian business, hence the consideration to set up an assembly plant.

He explained that the assembly plant is part of the company's long-term business development plan aimed at harnessing markets in Africa.

According to him, the new service centre would offer after sales services to their customers, adding that the company was not only interested in selling its products but will also ensure that customers enjoy other services such as the repair of their products in case of damage.

He explained that the Abuja Panasonic Service Centre was the company’s second customer care outlet in the country in a little over one year, after the Lagos centre.
He said the company believed that doing business in Abuja would be as rewarding as the Lagos arm, adding that plans were underway to establish other centres in major cities in Nigeria to provide assistance to their customers.

He said, “For Panasonic Nigeria, we are very satisfied with the level of business we have had from our after sales service activities in Lagos. We don’t know about Abuja. We are just starting today in Abuja. So, let us hope that it is going to be encouraging for us as it has been in Lagos.”

In his address, the Managing Director, Binar Traders, Japan, Mr. Bhojraj Rupani, hinted that Panasonic intends to make a wider array of its advanced products and services to customers in Nigeria.
Such service, Rupani said, included Japanese electronic products, employment opportunities and a transfer of high technology to the Nigerian people.

Federal Ministry of Education Partners CISCO to Train 20,000 Graduates

From Josephine Lohor in Abuja, 04.05.2007

The Federal Ministry of Education and global software company, CISCO, have concluded arrangements to strengthen the skills of 20,000 Nigerian graduates towards making them employable.

Under the arrangement that was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday, Cisco that will take N3.7 billion or 84 per cent of the total cost of N4.3 billion while the Federal Government will take the remaining N684 million or 16 per cent.
The Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, who stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC, said that the number of Nigerians billed for the training was arrived at after an online survey of graduates from tertiary institutions over a 10-year period during which 29,000 graduates responded.
While describing what she termed as the unfortunate “warehousing syndrome of Nigerian graduates”, she added that out of the 29,000 respondents, over 60 per cent were found to be unemployed and underemployed.

The Minister of Education who said that a lot of countries have relied on CISCO to train their graduates, stated that “in our own case, we found out that when people talk about the new economy they refer to knowledge economy. One of the things that happen in knowledge economy is that sectors are now upgrading their knowledge base, whether it is the oil and gas or the communications sectors. It is all about capability and the capacity that you have in ICT.

So in reskilling our glut of graduates towards employability, we needed to take them through a transformation and that transformation is coming in the form of partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education and CISCO”.

Giving insight into the cost implication of the partnership between the Federal Gove-rnment and CISCO, Ezekwesili stated that “this would have been costing a significant amount if we had decided to fund it alone.
But under the partnership, CISCO will take 84 per cent of the cost and the Federal Government will take 16 per cent. For a programme that would be costing N4.3 billion, CISCO will absorb N3.7 billion and the Federal Government will be contributing N684 billion.
At the end of the exercise which will span 6 months, 12 months and 15 months certification, you can be certain that a good number of those graduates will be transformed”.

She added that “CISCO, basically is a global company known for networking and has been running CISCO Academy all over the world. Currently, there are 10,000 of such academies around the world. They do it as part of their social and corporate responsibility.
They require the country concerned to contribute into the training.

We have entered into a strategic partnership with CISCO in which CISCO and Federal Ministry of Education will take 20, 000 of the 29,000 graduates surveyed. These graduates have clearly shown that they are going nowhere and CISCO is going to run an IT re-certification Programme which is of international academic standard. Many people who have gone through this programme go oon the internet and get jobs. So it is universal certification”.

,

Nigeria Exits London Club Debt

Daily Trust (Abuja)

April 6, 2007

Nigeria has paid off its London Club Debt, Finance Minister, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman, said yesterday. However, details of the country's outstanding external debt stock remains at about $ 3bn yesterday.

President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the clearing of all the country's debt before leaving office in May this year, she said.

Speaking at a press briefing on the London Club debt exit in Abuja, the minister said the process of clearing the debt was successful: "Future generations of Nigerians will not be shackled by debt."

But Nigeria's oil warrants have not been cleared by this administration, the minister said.

She said we were able to retire about 31.4 percent of the total oil warrants tendered, amounting to 369,154, at the repurchase price of about $82 million. This indicated about 70 percent of the oil warrants were uncleared.

But the minister said: "Even though we have not been able to clear the entire stock, the overall result in respect of the London Club debt exit process is excellent".

"It should also be stressed that the oil warrants themselves have no principal value. They constitute liabilities only when oil prices rise above certain level. So it may well be that our liabilities will be further reduced if oil prices fall", said Nenadi.

Mrs Usman said: "With the conclusion of this London Club debt exit process, several benefits will accrue to Nigeria including; financial savings from interest payments; cleaning up of our balance sheet; improving the country's economic profile; and removing the legacy of these debts including negative image associated with them as well as the onerous legal terms which included waiving our sovereign immunity.

The debt exit will also improve investment climate and facilitate the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment".

Duke Commissions Calabar Ultra Modern Shopping Mall(27/2/2007)

In his bid to rapidly urbanize the state capital through the provision of modern facilities, Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State has commissioned an ultra modern shopping mall in Calabar the State Capital.

Speaking at the ceremony, Duke contended that now that the state is emerging as the preferred tourists’ destination in the country, he would ensure that all a modern city requires is provided to make the city attractive to visitors.

He said that government while providing the facilities has not lost sight of environmental impact and would ensure that best environmental practices obtainable globally are adhered to in aesthetically positioning the state.

The Governor however lamented the slow implementation of Federal Government initiated Small Scale and Medium Enterprise (SME) fund which he attributed to lack of shopping outlets to display finished goods by the beneficiaries, adding that the shopping mall which he contemplates would be replicated in every community in the city to provide such opportunities for them to showcase their produce and enhance their living standards.

He maintained that given the facilities provided at the mall, visitors to the shop would fine shopping comfortable, pleasurable and leisurable.

Duke stressed that government had since last year decided to embark on the renovation of Watt Market through the provision of modern facilities in and around the market to standardize the market and expressed the hope that residence of the area would take advantage of the mall and utilize its services.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Bassey Eyo Ndem in his remark stated that the Big Qua Shopping Mall which is managed by a private firm covers a land area of about 29 x 30 square metres.

He said the idea behind the project was to raise enhanced shopping experience to both residence and tourists, adding that the allocation which is on first come, first serve basis is still in progress to interested members of the public.

Courtesy of Government House Press

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DISNEY-STYLE AMUSEMENT PARK OPENS IN ABUJA

2/2/2007

From Dele Anofi

Holiday makers, old and young need not look beyond our shores as a sprawling world-class amusement park is set to change the skyline and the architectural background of Abuja and provide the people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs quality leisure time.

Wonderland Amusement Park and Resort Centre, the brainchild of Abuja- based Lebanese entrepreneur Fawzy Fawaz, is situated on 400,000 square meters expanse of land and strategically positioned between the National Stadium, Ministry of Finance quarters and the National Hospital.

The amusement park, is of international standard in both concept and design with technical input from the International Amusement Parks Association based in the United States of America (USA).

The park, which is due for commissioning soon is already generating lots of interests in the city because of the eye-popping facilities that adorn the complex.

Right from the beautifully designed road leading to the gate of the park, a visitor’s heartbeat is bound to quicken with the kinds of feelings the whole environment exudes.

The kind of service and experience that awaits a visitor to the park is impressed on the consciousness of the visitor from the entrance, where a striking structure called the Wonderland castle stands majestically and at the same time menacingly, taking the visitor to the ancient times of 16th century Egypt.

The arcades are stuffed with all kinds of video and other computerised games while several weird-looking and fast moving train and ship rides including crazy clowns are sites to hold any visitor spellbound for hours.

Adults who may want to have fun on the fast lane can do so on "the flying tower".

The spacious amusement park routes were paved and carefully landscaped also well equipped with the latest security apparatus, health and communication facilities .

FG to spend $5 billion in 3 years on education — Minister

By Emmanuel Edukugho
Tuesday, April 24, 2007

LAGOS—THE Federal Government has set aside N600b ($5 billion) as presidential intervention fund for education in the next three years, Education Minister, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili said in Lagos yesterday at the opening of a workshop on Tertiary Education Financing at the University of Lagos.

Vice Chancellors, rectors, provosts from universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education from across the country are attending the 2-day workshop. She said that 43% of the N600b will be for direct intervention at the tertiary level.

According to her: “Just as the power sector is getting a new deal, the education sector also gets a new deal.”

Ezekwesili added that another N1 billion competitive research grant has been provided to be disbursed from May, 2007 to enable Nigerian lecturers get funding for research and “build the broken walls that used to be citadels of knowledge.”

According to her, every lecturer will be given a laptop to be paid for by government jointly with the lecturers themselves in instalments to facilitate acquisition and usage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) which will become compulsory.

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$700 million Refinery in Anambra to reduce fuel scarcity

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007

Managing Director of Orient Petroleum Resources Nnaemeka Nwawka says a refinery to be built by the c

Politics › Re: Pictures Of Poverty In Europe And America, That Cnn Or Bbc Wont Show! by Jen33(m): 5:23pm On May 06, 2007

People saying stuff like ''we can't even conduct elections so why should we expect to be respected?'', are IGNORANT.

Well, the US cannot conduct elections so why do you respect them?

Was Bush not blatantly rigged into power?

Do you know that the only three companies charged with manufacturing US voting machines have known ties to the Republican Party?

What kind of ''democracy'' is that?

Just because their media is compromised and therefore do not highlight such glaring shortcomings doesn't mean that you should similarly gloss over them.

Do you realise that millions of votes are uncounted, miscounted, and discounted in US elections?

Do you realise the tragic effects to millions of people worldwide, the effects of Bush's rigged enthronement as president of the US?

Just because the effects of US corruption are felt more by OTHER nations as opposed to US citizens, doesn't make the US a 'better' nation, or make it's people more worthy of 'respect'.

Unless you're suggesting that selfishness, greed, exploitation, and mass murder in dealing with other nations while keeping your own citizens dandy, is what nations should be aspiring to.

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 12:13am On May 02, 2007

Nferyn, my focus on NDE's should not suggest to you that I consider them the only evidence of survival of consciousness outside of the human body. Other evidence comes from documented cases of Remote Viewing, After-death Communication, Astral Projection, Deathbed Visions, Psychic Readings, and a whole host of paranormal feats which you no doubt consider invalid owing to their operating outside of your inherited paradigms.

NDE's are simply the most dramatic instances of consciousness existing outside of the human body.

Survival of consciousness has a lot of evidence in many forms to back it up, and your casual dismissal of the entire weight of anecdotal evidence can hardly be described as scientific.

More like an act of religion.

Here's an interesting read. In fact, the author must have had you in mind when he penned it:

---------------------------------

Who's Afraid of Life After Death?

By Neal Grossman

When researchers ask the question, "How can the near-death experience be explained?" they tend to make the usual assumption that an acceptable explanation will be in terms of concepts—biological, neurological, psychological—with which they are already familiar.

The near-death experience (NDE) would then be explained, for example, if it could be shown what brain state, which drugs, or what beliefs on the part of the experiencer correlate with the NDE. Those who have concluded that the NDE cannot be explained mean that it cannot be, or has not yet been, correlated with any physical or psychological condition of the experiencer.

I wish to suggest that this approach to explaining the NDE is fundamentally misguided.

To my knowledge, no one who has had an NDE feels any need for an explanation in the reductionist sense that researchers are seeking. For the experiencer, the NDE does not need to be explained because it is exactly what it purports to be, which is, at a minimum, the direct experience of consciousness—or minds, or selves, or personal identity—existing independently of the physical body.

It is only with respect to our deeply entrenched materialist paradigm that the NDE needs to be explained, or more accurately, explained away.

In this article, I will take the position that materialism has been shown to be empirically false; and hence, what does need to be explained is the academic establishment's collective refusal to examine the evidence and to see it for what it is. The academic establishment is in the same position today as the bishop who refused to look through Galileo's telescope. Why is this the case?

Before addressing this question, I'd like to say something about the kind and strength of evidence that refutes materialism. Emily Williams Cook, Bruce Greyson, and Ian Stevenson (1998) describe "three features of NDEs—enhanced mentation, the experience of seeing the physical body from a different position in space, and paranormal perception—which we believe might provide convergent evidence supporting the survival hypothesis."

They then go on to describe fourteen cases that satisfy these criteria. From an epistemological perspective, the third criterion, paranormal perception, is the most important. The materialist can, in principle, give no account of how a person acquires veridical information about events remote from his or her body. Consider, for example, the kind of case where the NDEer accurately reports the conversation occurring in the waiting room while his or her body is unconscious in the operating room.

There is no way for the relevant information, conveyed in sound waves or light waves, to travel from the waiting room, through corridors and up elevators, to reach the sense organs of the unconscious person. Yet the person wakes from the operation with the information. This kind of case—and there are lots of them—shows quite straightforwardly that there are nonphysical ways in which the mind can acquire information. Hence materialism is false.

Perhaps the "smoking gun" case is the one described by Michael Sabom in his book Light and Death. In this case, the patient had her NDE while her body temperature was lowered to 60 degrees, and all the blood was drained from her body. "Her electroencephalogram was silent, her brain-stem response was absent, and no blood flowed through her brain."

A brain in this state cannot create any kind of experience. Yet the patient reported a profound NDE. Those materialists who believe that consciousness is secreted by the brain, or that the brain is necessary for conscious experience to exist, cannot possibly explain, in their own terms, cases such as this.

An impartial observer would have to conclude that not all experience is produced by the brain, and that therefore the falsity of materialism has been empirically demonstrated. Thus, what needs to be explained is the abysmal failure of the academic establishment to examine this evidence and to embrace the conclusion: Materialism is false, and consciousness can and does exist independently of the body.

Moreover, the evidence against materialism comes not only from the NDE, but from other areas of research as well. Both mediumship, which has been extensively investigated since the time of William James, and Stevenson-type cases of children who have verified true memories of past lives, offer an abundance of evidence against materialism.

The best epistemological analysis of the evidence is given by Robert Almeder: After a lengthy and detailed discussion of past-life cases, he calls the researcher to task for concluding only that "it is rational to believe in reincarnation, given the evidence." The proper conclusion, according to Almeder, should be "it is irrational not to believe in reincarnation, given the evidence." I agree with Almeder.

Our collective irrationality with respect to the wealth of evidence against materialism manifests in two ways: (i) by ignoring the evidence, and (ii) by insisting on overly stringent standards of evidence, that, if adopted, would render any empirical science impossible.

One of my earliest encounters with this kind of academic irrationality occurred more than twenty years ago. I was devouring everything on the near-death experience I could get my hands on, and eager to share what I was discovering with colleagues. It was unbelievable to me how dismissive they were of the evidence. "Drug-induced hallucinations," "last gasp of a dying brain," and "people see what they want to see" were some of the more commonly used phrases. One conversation in particular caused me to see more clearly the fundamental irrationality of academics with respect to evidence against materialism. I asked, "What about people who accurately report the details of their operation?"

"Oh," came the reply, "they probably just subconsciously heard the conversation in the operating room, and their brain subconsciously transposed the audio information into a visual format."

"Well," I responded, "what about cases where people report veridical perception of events remote from their body?"

"Oh, that's just a coincidence or a lucky guess."

Exasperated, I asked, "What will it take, short of having a near-death experience yourself, to convince you that it's real?" (Same question I asked Nferyn incidentally)

Very nonchalantly, without batting an eye, the response was "Even if I were to have a near-death experience myself, I would conclude that I was hallucinating, rather than believe that my mind can exist independently of my brain." He went on to add that dualism (the philosophical thesis that asserts mind and matter are independent substances, neither of which can be reduced to the other) is a false theory, and that there cannot be evidence for something that's false.

This was a momentous experience for me, because here was an educated, intelligent man telling me that he will not give up materialism, no matter what.

Even the evidence of his own experience would not cause him to give up materialism. shocked

I realized two things in that moment. First, this experience cured me of any impulse to argue these things with recalcitrant colleagues; it is pointless to argue with someone who tells me that his mind is already made up, and nothing I can say will change it. Second, this experience taught me that it is important to distinguish between

(a) materialism as an empirical hypothesis about the nature of the world, which is amenable to evidence one way or the other (this is the hallmark of a scientific hypothesis—that evidence is relevant for its truth or falsity) and

(b) materialism as an ideology, or paradigm, about how things "must" be, which is impervious to evidence (this is the hallmark of an unscientific hypothesis—that evidence is not relevant for its truth). (Nferyn anyone?)

My colleague believed in materialism not as a scientific hypothesis that, qua scientific hypothesis, might be false, but rather as dogma and ideology that "must" be true, evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.

For him, materialism is the fundamental paradigm in terms of which everything else is explained, but which is not itself open to doubt. I shall coin the term "fundamaterialist" to refer to those who believe that materialism is a necessary truth, not amenable to empirical evidence. I call it fundamaterialism to make explicit comparison with fundamentalism in religion.

Fundamentalism connotes an attitude of certainty towards one's core belief. Just as the fundamentalist Christian is absolutely certain that the world was created in the manner described by The Bible (fossil evidence notwithstanding), so also the fundamaterialist is absolutely certain that there exists nothing that is not made up of matter or physical energy (NDE and other evidence notwithstanding).

In fact, and this is the crucial point, their respective beliefs have nothing to do with evidence. As my fundamaterialist colleague put it, "There can't be evidence for something that's false."

With respect to (a), materialism held as an empirical hypothesis about the world, the evidence against it is overwhelming.

With respect to (b), materialism held as an ideology, evidence against it is logically impossible.

A complicating factor is that the fundamaterialist typically holds the metabelief that his belief in materialism is not ideological, but empirical. That is, he misclassifies himself under (a), while his behavior clearly falls under (b). The debunker and skeptic believe they are being "scientific" in ignoring and rejecting the evidence against materialism.

But when asked what kind of evidence it would take to convince them that materialism is empirically false, they are, like my colleague, usually at a loss for what to say. If they're not familiar with the data, they'll come up with a criterion of evidence that in fact has already been met. When it is pointed out that there exist many well-documented cases that satisfy the proposed criterion, they will simply make the criterion more stringent, and at some point they cross the line between the reasonable demand for scientific evidence and the unreasonable (and unscientific) demand for logical proof. (Nferyn anyone?)

Philosophy & Afterlife
We might think that, of all the disciplines, philosophy ought to be most interested in, and would meticulously study, all the research on the NDE. After all, isn't philosophy supposed to be concerned with questions of ultimate meaning, of the purpose of life, of the relation between mind and body, of God? NDE research has data that are directly relevant to all of these questions. So how is it possible that philosophy has collectively managed to ignore and even ridicule this research?

To those outside academic philosophy, it may come as a surprise to learn that the great majority of academic philosophers are atheists and materialists. While they incorrectly use science to support their materialism, they systematically ignore the findings of science that refute their materialism.

And, more surprisingly, even those philosophers who are not materialists (and their number, I think, is growing) refuse to look at the data. One would think that Cartesian dualists or Platonists would eagerly devour the wealth of data that strongly support their point of view that mind transcends the physical world, but that is not the case.

I would like to share a personal experience that highlights some of the attitudes involved. In the late 1970s, when the early research on the NDE was just being published, I was involved in team-teaching a course with one of the campus chaplains. Excitedly, I shared what I was learning about the NDE, thinking he would welcome empirical data that, at the very least, constituted strong prima facie evidence for much of what he believed in—soul, afterlife, ultimate responsibility for one's actions, a higher power, etc.

To my astonishment, he was just as dismissive of the evidence as was my fundamaterialist colleague. When I questioned him about why he was so resistant to the data, he said, in effect, that his belief in God, afterlife, etc. is based on faith, and if these things were decidable empirically, there would be no room left for faith, which for him was the foundation of his religious convictions.

I knew then that the NDE is between a rock and a hard place, because it is not taken seriously by the two disciplines that should be the most interested in it—philosophy and theology. Once theology and religion open the door to empirical evidence, then the possibility arises that the evidence may contradict some aspects of what was believed solely on the basis of faith. Indeed, this has already happened.

The evidence from the NDE, for example, suggests that God is not vengeful, does not judge us or condemn us, and is not angry at us for our "sins"; there is judgment, to be sure, but the reports appear to be in agreement that all judgment comes from within the individual, not from the Being of Light. It seems, in fact, that all God is capable of giving us is unconditional love. But the concept of an all-loving, nonjudgmental God contradicts and undermines the teachings of many religions, and thus it is no wonder that religious fundamentalists are uncomfortable with the near-death experience.

Strange Bedfellows
One conclusion I have come to over the years is that both the atheist and the believer, from the fundamaterialist to the fundamentalist, share something in common. In fact, from an epistemological perspective, what they have in common is much more significant than what they disagree about. What they agree about is this: Beliefs pertaining to the possible existence of a transcendent reality—God, soul, afterlife, etc.—are based on faith, not fact. If this is true, then there can be no factual evidence that pertains to such beliefs.

This metabelief—that beliefs about a transcendent reality cannot be empirically based—is so deeply entrenched in our culture that it has the status of a taboo. The taboo is very democratic in that it allows everyone to believe whatever he or she wants to believe about such matters.

This allows the fundamaterialist to feel comfortable in her conviction that reason is on her side, that there is no afterlife, and that those who believe otherwise have fallen prey to the forces of irrationality and wishful thinking. But it also allows the fundamentalist to feel comfortable in his conviction that he has God on his side, and that those who believe otherwise have fallen prey to the forces of Satan and evil.

Thus, although the fundamentalist and the fundamaterialist are on opposite extremes of the spectrum of possible attitudes towards an afterlife, the extreme positions they hold unite them as "strange bedfellows" or ''opposames'' in their battles against the possibility that there are matters of fact about the afterlife that empirical research might discover. The very suggestion that empirical research might be relevant to beliefs pertaining to a transcendent reality—that such beliefs are subject to empirical constraint—runs strongly against this taboo, and is thus very threatening to most elements of our culture.

The Purpose of Life
Research on the NDE has yielded the following unambiguous conclusion: NDEers confirm basic values common to most of the world's religions. The purpose of life, NDEers agree, is knowledge and love. Studies on the transformative effect of the NDE show that the cultural values of wealth, status, material possessions and so on become much less important, and the perennial religious values of love, caring for others, and acquiring knowledge about the divine ascend to greater importance.

That is, the studies show that NDEers not only verbally profess the values of love and knowledge, but they tend to operate in accordance with these values, if not entirely, then at least more so than before their NDE.

As long as religious values are presented as merely religious values, then it is easy for popular culture to ignore them or give them minimal lip service on Sunday mornings. But if these same religious values are presented as empirically verified scientific facts, then everything changes.

If the belief in an afterlife were to be accepted not on the basis of faith or on the basis of speculative theology, but as a well-confirmed scientific hypothesis, then this could not be ignored by our culture. In fact, it would mean the end of our culture in its present form.

Consider the following scenario: Further research on the NDE confirms in great detail what has already been established; many more cases of confirmed veridical perceptions while "out of body" are collected and documented; advancing medical technology makes possible many more "smoking gun" cases of the type discussed above; longitudinal studies on NDEers confirm the already observed behavioral changes aligned with their newly acquired (or recently reinforced) spiritual values; and so forth. The studies are replicated in different cultures with the same results. Eventually, the weight of evidence begins to set in, and scientists are ready to announce to the world, if not as fact, then at least as highly confirmed scientific hypotheses:

(1) There is an afterlife.

(2) Our real identity is not our body, but our mind or consciousness.

(3) Although the details of the afterlife are not known, we are reasonably certain that everyone will experience a life review in which the individual experiences not only every event and every emotion of his or her life, but also the effects his or her behavior, positive or negative, have had on others. The usual defense mechanisms by which we hide from ourselves our sometimes cruel and less-than-compassionate behavior towards others seem not to operate during the life review.

(4) The purpose of life is love and knowledge—to learn as much as possible about both this world and the transcendent world, and to grow in our ability to feel kindness and compassion towards all beings.

(5) A consequence of (3) is that it appears to be a great disadvantage to oneself to harm another person, either physically or psychologically, since whatever pain one inflicts on another is experienced as one's own in the life review.

This scenario is by no means far-fetched. I believe there is already sufficient evidence to present the above propositions as "probable" or "more likely than not" based on the evidence.

Further studies will only increase the probability.

When this happens, the fallout will be revolutionary. When these findings are announced by science, it will become impossible for our culture to do business as usual, either economically, or politically, or academically. It would be interesting to speculate what an economy that tries to align itself with the above five empirical hypotheses might look like, but that is a project well beyond the scope of this article.

The findings of NDE researchers would mark the beginning of the end of a culture whose driving forces have been greed and ambition, and which measures success in terms of material possessions, wealth, reputation, social status, etc. The present culture, therefore, has an enormous vested interest in undermining NDE research, which it does by ignoring, debunking, and otherwise marginalizing the research.

I'll close with a little story. C. D. Broad, a famous British philosopher who wrote in the mid-twentieth century, served as president of the British Society for Psychical Research. He was the last philosopher with an international reputation who believed there was something to it. Toward the end of his life, he was asked how he would feel if he found himself still present after his body had died. He replied that he would feel more disappointed than surprised. Not surprised, because his investigations led him to conclude that an afterlife was more likely than not. But why disappointed? His reply was disarmingly honest.

He said, in effect, that he had had a good life: that he was comfortable materially, and that he enjoyed admiration and respect from students and colleagues. There is no guarantee that his status, reputation, and comfort would carry over intact into the afterlife. The rules by which success is measured in the afterlife might be quite different from the rules according to which success is measured in this life. And indeed, NDE research suggests that C. D. Broad's fears were well-founded, that "success" by afterlife standards is measured, not in terms of publications, grants, or reputation, but rather by acts of kindness and compassion toward others.

NEAL GROSSMAN has a PhD in the history and philosophy of science from Indiana University, and is an associate professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago. His special interests are Spinoza, mysticism, and the epistemology of parapsychological research. Contact information: nealg@uic.edu

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 11:47pm On Apr 30, 2007

The evidence?

It's been presented to you on this thread. Links have been posted to mountains of evidence of survival of consciousness, which you pretend not to see.

You've presented precious little yourself apart from puerile name-dropping and glib references to ketamine and Susan Blackmore, whose arguments were destroyed in one of the links I presented, which u no doubt ignored.

I can't imagine your future state of distress and possible shock, when, upon your passing, you find that you're not really dead.

Only then will a person like you get the ''evidence'' you demand.

Nothing else will suffice in your instance, and that's ok too. cool

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 10:14pm On Apr 27, 2007

Quote from: Jen33 on Today at 01:17:53 PM
Why are so many ND experiencers ''induced by chemicals'' to experience being told by an entity words to the effect

that ''you must return to earth, it's not yet your time''? If you've studied NDE accounts this is a recurring message

reported by majority of experiencers.
Because their mental modes include those entities to start with.

Not always. Some experiencers have reported meeting relatives they'd NEVER MET on earth, such as great grandfathers, great aunts etc etc. Only to return to this life and have their identities confirmed by other relatives.

How do your mysterious 'mental modules' produce such an astonishing outcome?

When certain brain receptors are inhibited due to a lack of oxygen, ketamine ensures that these brain cells don't die off, the effect of ketamine is that other mental modes (not the one where a feeling of inhibiting or observing from within a body) come to be dominant. Remembering something is not an exact recall of sensory inputs anyway. There are a lot of blanks we fill in from other information, that's why eyewitness reports are notoriously unreliable. Most of our memories of experiences are not exact, but only useful approximations.

Sorry but this is a highly unsatisfactory attempt at explaining the NDE phenomenon. Mere saying that ketamine is released owing to oxygen shortage does not negate the reality of the experience. It's like someone saying you're not really hungry. What you're feeling is merely a 'chemical imbalance' caused by lack of food to your guts. While there may indeed be such an imbalance, it does not obviate the reality of the situation ie, that you were hungry.

Comprende?

The NDE experience cannot be explained by mere allusion to a physical manifestation of distress in blatant disregard of further realities reported by the experiencer.

In one of the links you gave it was even mentioned that the incidence of meeting these entities neatly correlates with the prior religiosity/spirituality of the subjects. Is that a coincidence?

This is true, but does not obviate the reality of the experience. The Being of Light encountered by many an experiencer does not announce himself as Jesus or Buddha or Horus or Ifa. It is the experiencer that labels the Being based on his/her earthly religious persuasion.

But ALL experiencers have described SIMILAR sensations of Unconditional Love and Acceptance issuing from the person of this Being.

Again, I'm at a loss as to how a dying brain's last throes could 'chemically' fashion out such wondrous, momentous realities identified by virtually ALL Near Death experiencers.

Quote from: Jen33 on Today at 01:17:53 PM
And what about their meeting deceased relatives and friends, who sometimes take them on journeys across that realm? Or the case of those who return with scientific knowledge?
These are exactly the kind of memories that are made up and become more and more detailed as time passes; Concerning those coming back with scientific knowledge they didn't have before, I need to see some evidence that it doesn't come from elsewhere. People are way too credulous.

Ah. So they are lying then? Making things up.

But WHY would a man that just suffered serious trauma like heart attack or cancer return from clinically certified death to 'make things up'?

Ever asked yourself that question?

Then ask yourself why THOUSANDS of trauma victims would follow suit and ''make things up''.

You take incredulity to new, preposterous heights.

Quote from: Jen33 on Today at 01:17:53 PM
What about the fact that most experiencers undergo a complete change in their personality towards greater spirituality, (not necessarily religiosity by the way), empathy, and an absence of the fear of death?
If you go through such an experience, it will affect you, regardless of what the ultimate cause of the experience is. Maybe we should all go through such an experience, if only to rid ourselves from the shackles of religion

Oh of course it wll 'affect' you - but WHY in the manner it does them? WHY does the experience engender greater spirituality for instance, or end the fear of death? I would think it takes FAR MORE than some random chemical reaction to induce such radical, near - uniform, and apparently permanent personality alterations.

Quote from: Jen33 on Today at 01:17:53 PM
Should YOU not have to prove THAT to us?
Prove? Why? My explanation is far more parsimonious than yours, thus it is objectively more credible.

It takes the most astounding arrogance to arrogate to yourself an ''explanation'' that flies in the face of the reported experiences of millions of people, even more unforgivable to relegate their accounts to the status of mere tales lacking in 'objectivity'.

Quote from: Jen33 on Today at 01:17:53 PM
Why don't you drop this misguided skepticism of yours and see that there's got to be far more to this than some silly 'dying brain chemical imbalance'?
The universe doesn't owe us meaning or an explantion. It's not because you have an emotional need for meaning that there is ultimate meaning.

The search for meaning is not an emotional one - unless you're referring to religion.

More of an intellectual one. And if ND experiencers can make meaning of their experience, it becomes illogical for you to reject their accounts based on your prejudices with regard to the supposed inacessibility of 'ultimate meaning'.

We're only containers for self-replicating DNA, nothing more.

I am of the belief that we are also containers for an immortal soul or consciousness that is capable of existing independently of the human coat - whose function is to act as a container for the human soul on the earth plane.

This is a belief that is shared by all the millions of people who have had a near-death experience. Your beliefs are based on the skeptical regurgitations of people who have NOT had anything resembling such an experience.

Quote from: Jen33 on Today at 01:17:53 PM
Lastly, what gives YOU the right, the audacity in fact, to dismiss the experiences of millions of people as mere chemical-induced hallucinations, when they themselves have invariably reported their experiences to be real?
All experiences are merely chemically induced hallucinations, all of them. Some however have more resemblance to reality than others and that resemblance has nothing to do with how real they feel, but rather with the context of these experiences.

Ok, I know what you're driving at here. All matter is illusion as all we're doing is interpretating electro-magnetic waves which appear to us as 'solid' objects.

But again, reality in the afterlife, is - as on earth - what is perceived to be real by the observer.

And many Experiencers have said that the reality of the NDE is of a far higher order and poignancy than what we can ever experience on the earth plane.

It has been described as similar to waking from a dream - the dream being the earth plane existence.

Again, we have to look to their accounts for what the situation is, and if they don't fit into your inherited paradigms, it's no one's fault but YOURS!

You simply need to jettison your ideas regarding what u suppose to be the limits of reality.

They've been made redundant by new realities, if u excuse the pun.

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 1:17pm On Apr 27, 2007

Jen33,

I could of course engage in a point by point refutation of all the points you bring here, but I have neither the time, nor the energy to do that. You could of course pick one of your points, any one for that matter, and ask me to refute it. Something I am willing to do.

No matter how you twist and turn, you have zero evidence that a NDE is anything more than a result of specific brainstates, many of which can be chemically induced.

Why are so many ND experiencers ''induced by chemicals'' to experience being told by an entity words to the effect that ''you must return to earth, it's not yet your time''? If you've studied NDE accounts this is a recurring message reported by majority of experiencers.

And what about their meeting deceased relatives and friends, who sometimes take them on journeys across that realm? Or the case of those who return with scientific knowledge? What about the fact that most experiencers undergo a complete change in their personality towards greater spirituality, (not necessarily religiousity by the way), empathy, and an absence of the fear of death?

Why and how does the ''dying brain chemical'' do all of that?

Should YOU not have to prove THAT to us?

Why don't you drop this misguided skepticism of yours and see that there's got to be far more to this than some silly 'dying brain chemical imbalance'?

Lastly, what gives YOU the right, the audacity in fact, to dismiss the experiences of millions of people as mere chemical-induced hallucinations, when they themselves have invariably reported their experiences to be real?

It's like somebody saying that YOUR present state of consciousness IS NOT REALLY CONSCIOUSNESS, but some chemically-induced illusionary state.

You'd feel like slapping them wouldn't u?

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 5:07am On Apr 24, 2007

NDEs cannot be explained merely by brain chemistry alone.

If NDEs are merely hallucinations, why do the vast majority of experiencers report being told an identical and unusual message? NDEs often include a phenomenon of the experiencer being told by a supernatural entity that, "Your mission on Earth is not finished. You must go back" or some slight variation of this. Assuming that NDEs are merely hallucinations, it is odd that people are having mass hallucinations of receiving similar unusual messages.

Sources:

(a) "Common Elements Are Found in NDEs: P.M.H. Atwater's NDE Research"
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/evidence06.html

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(33) NDEs have been reported by people since the dawn of recorded history.

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Reports of near-death experiences are not a new phenomenon. A great number of them have been recorded over a period of thousands of years. The ancient religious texts such as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Bible, and Koran describe experiences of life after death which remarkably resembles modern NDEs. The oldest surviving explicit report of a NDE in Western literature comes from the famed Greek philosopher, Plato, who describes an event in his tenth book of his legendary book entitled Republic.

Plato discusses the story of Er, a soldier who awoke on his funeral pyre and described his journey into the afterlife. But this story is not just a random anecdote for Plato. He integrated at least three elements of the NDE into his philosophy: the departure of the soul from the cave of shadows to see the light of truth, the flight of the soul to a vision of pure celestial being and its subsequent recollection of the vision of light, which is the very purpose of philosophy.

Sources:

(a) "NDEs Have Been Reported Since Ancient Times: Plato's Testimony of a Soldier Named Er and His NDE" http://www.near-death.com/experiences/evidence12.html

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(34) The skeptical "dying brain" theory of NDEs has serious flaws.

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Two competing hypotheses are advanced in Dying to Live: The Afterlife Hypothesis and The Dying Brain Hypothesis. The Afterlife Hypothesis states spirit survives body death.

The NDE is the result of spirit separating from the body. The Dying Brain Hypothesis states the NDE is an artifact of brain chemistry. According to the dying brain hypothesis, there is no spirit which survives body death.

Because NDEs have many common core elements, this suggests that they are spiritual voyages outside of the body. Also, if the dying brain creates NDE illusions, what is the purpose for doing it? If our brains are only a high-tech computer-like lump of tissue which produces our mind and personality, why does it bother to create illusions at the time of death? If everything, including the mind and personality, are about to disintegrate, why would the brain produce a last wonderful Grand Finale vision? Even if NDE elements can be reduced to only a series of brain reactions, this does not negate the idea that NDEs are more than a brain thing.

Sources:

(a) "A Critique of Susan Blackmore's Dying Brain Hypothesis" by Greg Stone
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/articles001.html

(b) "Science Can't Yet Explain Near-Death Experiences," Reuters News
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/nde/001_pages/19.html

(c) "No Medical Explanation For Near-Death Experiences," New Scientist News
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/nde/001_pages/18.html

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(35) Skeptical arguments against the NDE "survival theory" are not valid.

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Sociologist Dr. Allan Kellehear states that some scientific theories are often presented as the most logical, factual, objective, credible, and progressive possibilities, as opposed to the allegedly subjective, superstitious, abnormal, or dysfunctional views of mystics.

The rhetorical opinions of some NDE theories are presented as if they were scientific (Kellehear, 1996, 120). Many skeptical arguments against the survival theory are actually arguments from pseudo-skeptics who often think they have no burden of proof. Such arguments often based on scientism with assumptions that survival is impossible even though survival has not been ruled out.

Faulty conclusions are often made such as, "Because NDEs have a brain chemical connection then survival is impossible." Pseudo-skeptical arguments are sometimes made that do not consider the entire body of circumstantial evidence supporting the possibility of survival or do not consider the possibility of new paradigms. Such pseudo-skeptical claims are often made without any scientific evidence.

Sources:

(a) "The NDE and Science: Kevin Williams' Research Conclusions
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research08.html

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(36) The burden of proof has shifted to the skeptics of the survival theory.

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All neurological theories that conclude NDEs to be only a brain-thing, must show how the core elements of the NDE occur subjectively because of specific neurological events triggered by the approach of death. These core elements include: the out-of-body state, paranormal knowledge, the tunnel, the golden light, the voice or presence, the appearance of deceased relatives, and beautiful vistas. Perhaps the final word should go to Nancy Evans Bush, a NDEr with the International Association for Near-Death Studies, who said: "There is no human experience of any description that can't simply be reduced to a biological process, but that in no way offsets the meaning those experiences have for us - whether it's falling in love, or grieving, or having a baby."

Sources:

(a) "The NDE and Science: Kevin Williams' Research Conclusions
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research08.html

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(37) Other anomalous phenomena supports the survival theory.

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These related phenomena include: deathbed visions, quantum physics, dream research, out-of-body research, after-death communications research, reincarnation research, hypnosis, synchronicity, remote viewing, and consciousness research.

Sources:

(a) "The NDE and Science: Kevin Williams' Research Conclusions
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research08.html

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(38) NDEs support the existence of reincarnation.

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Amber Wells was a student at the University of Connecticut and wrote a research paper based on her study of the near-death experience for her senior honors thesis under the direction of Dr. Ken Ring. Her paper was published in the Journal of Near-Death Studies in the fall of 1993. In her study, 70 percent of the group of near-death experiencers demonstrated belief in reincarnation. Claims have been documented by other researchers of direct knowledge of reincarnation which became available during the near-death experience itself. An example of this type of knowledge can be seen in a letter written to Dr. Ken Ring by John Robinson: "It is a matter of personal knowledge from what the being with whom I spoke during my near-death experience told me about my older son, that he had had 14 incarnations in female physical bodies previous to the life he has just had."

Sources:

(a) "The NDE and Reincarnation: The True Resurrection"
http://www.near-death.com/reincarnation.html

(b) "The NDE and Reincarnation: Kevin Williams' Research Conclusions"
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research35.html

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(39) The scientific evidence supporting reincarnation also supports the survival theory.

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On June 11, 1992, at Princeton University, Dr. Ian Stevenson presented a paper entitled: "Birthmarks and Birth Defects Corresponding to Wounds on Deceased Persons"[/b] providing scientific evidence suggestive of reincarnation which was published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration.

These findings support reincarnation in NDE research findings as well. Reincarnation has been called by some to be the greatest unknown scientific discovery today. In the last chapter of Dr. Ian Stevenson's book entitled Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation (1967), he provides rigorous scientific reasoning to show how reincarnation is the only viable explanation that fits the facts of his study. He considers every possible alternative explanation for his [b]twenty cases of young children who were spontaneously able to describe a previous lifetime as soon as they learned to talk.

He was able to rule out each alternative explanation using one or more aspects of these cases. Later research has even bolstered his case in favor of the existence of reincarnation. His study is also completely reproducible which means that anybody who doubts the validity of this study is perfectly welcome to repeat it for themselves. I believe it is only a short matter of time before his discovery of the existence of reincarnation is finally realized by the scientific community and the world to be accepted as one of the greatest scientific discoveries of all time.

Sources:

(a) "Can Reincarnation Be Proven? How Researchers Have Investigated Claims of Past Lives." http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/reincarnation/001_pages/03.html

(b) Archive of Reincarnation News on the Internet
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/reincarnation.html

(c) "Birthmarks and Birth Defects Corresponding to Wounds on Deceased Persons," by Dr. Ian Stevenson http://www.childpastlives.org/birthmrk.htm

(d) Library of Articles and Cases on Reincarnation
http://www.childpastlives.org/library.htm

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(40) Xenoglossy supports reincarnation and the survival theory.

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One of the most amazing psychic phenomena, which religionists, skeptics and atheists have continuously and deliberately ignored is xenoglossy - the ability to speak or write a foreign language a person never learned. After all other explanations have been investigated - such as fraud, genetic memory, telepathy and cryptomnesia (the remembering of a foreign language learned earlier), xenoglossy is taken as evidence of either memories of a language learned in a past life or of communication with a discarnate entity— a spirit person. There are many cases on record of adults and children speaking and writing languages which they have never learned. Sometimes this happens spontaneously but more often it occurs while the person is under hypnosis or in an altered state of consciousness. In some cases it is only a few words remembered but in other cases the person becomes totally fluent and able to converse with native speakers sometimes in obscure dialects which have not been in use for centuries. There are literally thousands of xenoglossic cases, many hundreds of which have been documented. They involve modern and ancient languages from all over the world. Psychic investigators, such the highly credible Dr. Ian Stevenson, used scientific method to illustrate xenoglossy and claim that there are only two possible explanations — either spirit contact or past life memory both of which are evidence for the afterlife.

Sources:

(a) Victor Zammit's A Lawyer Presents the Case for the Afterlife:
http://www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter22.html

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(41) Past-life regression supports reincarnation and the survival theory.

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Past life regression simply involves placing a person under hypnosis and asking them to go back through their childhood to a time before they were born. In many cases the person begins talking about his or her life or lives before the present lifetime, about their previous death and about the time between lives including the planning of the present lifetime. The main reason why at least some of these claims must be considered as evidence are:

(1) The regression frequently leads to a cure of a physical illness.
(2) In some cases the person regressed begins to speak an unlearned foreign language.
(3) In some cases the person being regressed remembers details of astonishing accuracy
which when checked out are verified by the top historians.
(4) The emotional intensity of the experience is such that it convinces many formerly skeptical psychiatrists who are used to dealing with fantasy and imagined regressions.
(5) In some cases the alleged cause of death in an immediate past life is reflected by a birthmark in the present life.

Sources:

(a) Victor Zammit's A Lawyer Presents the Case for the Afterlife:
http://www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter24.html

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(42) Contact with "the deceased" has occurred under scientific controls.

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On Oct. 4, 1999, the University of Arizona announced a study conducted by Dr. Gary Schwartz: "UA Researchers Look Beyond the Grave" concerning scientific evidence supporting a theory of the existence of a Universal Living Memory. This was achieved by testing highly qualified psychic mediums to see if they could contact the dead. The success of this study is important in that it supports NDE research in providing a scientific foundation toward investigating the survival of consciousness after death.

Sources:

(a) "Scientist Claims Proof Of Afterlife"
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/006.html

(b) "UA Researchers Look Beyond the Grave"
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/012.htm

(c) Journal Article on Accuracy and Replicability of After-Death Communication (HBO experiment) Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 2001, Vol. 65.1, Num. 862, pages 1-25. http://veritas.arizona.edu/

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(43) After-death communications have been reported by credible people.

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A five-year test has shown that mediums can indeed discover your deepest secrets. Researchers at the Scottish Society for Psychical Research (SSPR) say mediums who took part in their tests beat odds of a million to one to correctly reveal information about volunteer test subjects. Tricia Robertson, vice-president of the SSPR, a registered charity with around 250 members, said: “We were not trying to prove the existence of the afterlife or that personalities live on, but I think it is now important to recognize that mediumship can honestly gain information that ordinary people can't. I would welcome more academic research into this because it is an area where activity is unexplained as yet.”

Sources:

(a) "Seeking Meaning Beyond Can People Send Signals After They Die? Psychologist Claims Science Has the Answer," ABC News
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/002.html

(b) "Study Shows Psychic Mediums Really Can Read Your Deep Secrets"
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/007.htm

(c) "The Ghosts of Flight 401: John G. Fuller's Paranormal Research"
http://www.near-death.com/ghosts.html

(d) "After-Death Communications: Bill and Judy Guggenheim's Research"
http://www.near-death.com/guggenheim.html

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(44) Dream research supports the NDE and survival theory.

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Yale University Pediatric Cancer specialist Dr. Diane Komp reported that many dying children have NDEs which often occurred during dreams. One boy, for example, told Dr. Komp that Jesus had visited him in a big yellow school bus and told him he would die soon. The boy died as he predicted.

According to the celebrated psychiatrist and dream analyst, Marie Louise Von Franz, and based on her analysis of over 10,000 dreams of the dying, the meaning being communicated is that the light of the individual, one of the common metaphors for life that we've heard so often, goes out at death but is miraculously renewed on the other side. In other words, the spirit seems to live on. This dream then illustrates perfectly a profound insight of the great psychoanalyst and mentor of Dr. Von Franz, Carl Jung, who has said: "The unconscious psyche believes in a life after death." According to Jung, dream symbols which exist in the very depths of the soul behave as if the psychic life of the individual will continue. In Dr. Von Franz' words: "These symbols depict the end of bodily life and the explicit continuation of psychic life after death. In other words, our last dreams prepare us for death."

One of the strangest cases in the history of dream research is described in the documentary, The Secret World of Dreams. It describes the amazing story of a woman named Claire Sylvia. She was a professional dancer with several modern dance companies. As the years passed, Claire's health began to deteriorate. Claire Sylvia had to undergo a heart and lung transplant. Soon after the transplant, she began having strange and incredibly vivid dreams about a young man she didn't recognize. Eventually, Claire realized that the young man in her dreams was the eighteen-year-old organ donor whose heart and lungs resided in her chest. Through her continuing dream contacts with her donor, she learned a lot about him including his name. She then decided to do the research to find out if this "heavenly" information was correct.

Sources:

(a) "Dreams and the Near-Death Experience: A Connection to the Afterlife"
http://www.near-death.com/dreams.html

(b) "Precognitive Dreams"
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/018.htm

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(45) Deathbed visions support the NDE and survival theory.

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Dr. Carla Wills-Brandon has researched, in depth, the universal phenomenon of the Deathbed Vision (DBV) and has included her findings in her book, One Last Hug Before I Go. Complete with her own personal encounters, and those of numerous other DBV experiencers, this revolutionary work explores DBVs throughout history, from ancient Egypt to modern-day America. Through the visions and experiences common to all dying people, one can learn more about the spiritual journey that begins with death. According to recent studies, only about 10% of people are conscious shortly before their death. Of this group, 50% to 67% have DBVs.

Sources:

(a) "Deathbed Visions: Dr. Carla Wills-Brandon's Research"
http://www.near-death.com/deathbed.html

(b) "Parting Visions," By David Sunfellow
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/nde/001_pages/73.html

(c) Victor Zammit's A Lawyer Presents the Case for the Afterlife:
http://www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter20.html

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(46) Remote viewing supports the NDE and survival theory.

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On April 23, 1984, the Washington Post reported: "The Race for Inner Space" about the CIA's remote viewing program. On August 12, 1985, the Deseret News reported: "The United States is Still Involved in ESP-ionage." Other media attention followed. One theory about how remote viewing works is that gifted or trained people can tap into a "Universal Mind." NDE research also suggests the reality of a Universal or Collective Consciousness.

Some of the most credible remote reviewers, such as Joseph McMoneagle, received their remote viewing powers from a near-death experience.

Sources:

(a) Wikipedia Encyclopedia on Remote Viewing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_viewing

(b) "The Race for "Inner Space," Washington Post
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/008.htm

(c) "The United States is Still Involved in ESP-ionage," Deseret News
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/paranormal/001_pages/009.htm

(d) Victor Zammit's A Lawyer Presents the Case for the Afterlife:
http://www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter17.html

(e) "Remote Viewing: An Interview With Joseph McMoneagle," Magical Blend Magazine
http://www.mceagle.com/remote-viewing/pub/media/magicalblend9701.html

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(47) The efficacy of prayer has been demonstrated under scientific controls.

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On Oct. 25, 1999, BBC News reported: "Healing Power of Prayer Revealed" about a study at a university hospital in Kansas City, U.S. about scientific evidence of healing through the power of prayer. Then on June 5, 2000, BBC News reported: "Prayer Works as a Cure" about a different study conducted at the University of Maryland providing more evidence of healing through prayer. These findings support NDE research findings which demonstrates the reality of a transcendent consciousness.

Sources:

(a) "Prayer Really Works", Pressbox News
http:///d3bop

(b) "Prayer Works as a Cure," BBC News
http://home.comcast.net/~neardeath/religion/001_pages/01.html

(c) "Healing Power of Prayer Revealed," BBC News
http://neardeath.home.comcast.net/religion/001_pages/12.html

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(48) The "Scole Experiments" during the 1990s support the NDE and survival theory.

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The evidence collected over a period of more than four years and with more than 500 sittings by the Scole experimenters and the afterlife team is absolute, definitive and irrefutable. Many regard them as the greatest recent afterlife experiments in the world. Scole is a village in Norfolk, England. Using it as a base, mediums Robin and Sandra Foy and Alan and Diana Bennett and other experimenters produced brilliant evidence of the afterlife in England, the U.S. Ireland and in Spain. Their results are being repeated by other groups around the world and will convince even the toughest open-minded skeptic. The group began with two mediums delivering messages from a non-physical group. Many of these messages contained personal information that nobody else could know about. Soon the messages came in the form of voices which could be heard by all in the room. Then came the actual materialization of people and objects from the non-physical side.

Sources:

(a) "Scole: A Response to the Critics" by Montague Keen and Arthur Ellison, from The Scole
Report: Proceedings of the Society for Psychic Research Vol 58 Part 220 November 1999.

(b) Victor Zammit's A Lawyer Presents the Case for the Afterlife:
http://www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter05.html

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(49) Astrological concepts have been proven scientifically.

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Serial killers can be identified through their astrological birth chart. There is a correlation between a person's chosen profession and their astrological birth chart. Mental illness can be predicted using astrological principles. Fetuses may be affected by the movement of the sun, moon, and planets as they interfere with the Earth's magnetic field which may have an influence on the fetuses occupation later in life. Women can use the lunar cycle for purposes of contraception. Many terrestrial phenomena are influenced by electromagnetic and gravitational effects originating within the solar system. Sun spot activity affects the molecular structure of water. Sun spot activity affects the molecular structure of blood. Potatoes, rats, fiddler crabs, and oysters are all governed by lunar periods. A theoretical model using principles of mathematics and physics may account for human consciousness and process as it relates to the zodiac. And the astrological concept known as "karma" was demonstrated to be a reality in a study which confirmed that acting selflessly has rewards.

Sources:

(a) "Heavens Above, the Planets May Affect Us," The Age News
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/20/1085028464767.html

(b) "Astrology and the "Presidential Death Cycle"
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/articles012.html

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(50) Astrological concepts are found in NDEs.

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Carl Jung, the world-renowned psychologist who had a near-death experience, believed that when people are born, or when anything happens, the influence of the planets are exerted on them. As such, Jung believed astrology is a symbolic system that works through synchronicity, a term coined by Jung. Synchronicity is the belief that everything in the universe is interrelated and that what occurs can be understood as a pattern of meaningful coincidences. Jung's near-death experience was a major influence on his life and work. Jung did an analysis of astrology to determine its place in synchronicity. He studied 483 married couples and noted the astrological connections between the birth dates of married couples. These findings concluded that long lasting relationships had a certain astrological pattern which were found to be three times higher than the rate of coincidence. Also astounding was the fact that the couples whom astrologers would interpret as being the most conducive to marriage were the couples whose astrological pattern occurred most frequently. The pattern that astrologers interpret as least conducive to marriage occurred least often among the couples. Jung calculated the odds of the this result occurring randomly is 1 in 62,500,000. Jung believed incidents like these are the result of synchronicity.

Sources:

(a) "The NDE and Astrology: Kevin Williams' Research Conclusions"
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research33.html

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(51) Electronic voice phenomena (EVP) supports the NDE and survival theory.

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For more than 50 years experimenters all over the world have been tape recording 'paranormal voices' -- voices which cannot be heard when a tape-recorder is playing but which can be heard when the tape is played back. Many of the very short messages claim to be from loved ones who have passed on. They are responsive, use the experimenter's name and answer questions. There are thousands of researchers around the world who have been researching this most fascinating psychic phenomenon. At the time of writing, the Internet search engine Google had almost 50,000 listings for EVP. It is particularly relevant to my argument since it follows strict scientific procedures and experiments have been duplicated under laboratory conditions by all kinds of researchers in many different countries. Persistent investigators get a powerful shock when they decide to investigate electronic voice phenomena because by using the proper method of tape recording they are likely to hear voices of loved ones or friends who have died.

Sources:

(a) Victor Zammit's A Lawyer Presents the Case for the Afterlife:
http://www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter03.html

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(52) Prominent atheists have had NDEs which caused them to believe in the afterlife.

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Atheists have deathbed experiences and near-death experiences just like everyone else does. The philosophy of Positivism, founded by the famous atheist named A. J. Ayer, is the philosophy that anything not verifiable by the senses is nonsense. Because NDEs mark the end of the senses, Positivists believe the survival of the senses after death is nonsense. But this philosophy has been challenged by its founder A. J. Ayer himself. Later in life, Ayer had a NDE where he saw a red light. Ayer's NDE made him a changed man: "My recent experiences, have slightly weakened my conviction that my genuine death , will be the end of me, though I continue to hope that it will be." (Ayer, 1988 a,b) (Read more about it from an article in the National Post and an article by Gerry Lougrhan: Can there be life after life? Ask the atheist! (by Gerry Lougrhan, Letter_From_London, March 18, 2001.)

A non-NDE example comes from Antony Flew, a champion of atheist beliefs for more than 50 years. In a news article titled "Atheist Discovers 'The Science of God'": "One of Britain's most prominent atheists has decided that God might exist after all. Prof Antony Flew, said scientific evidence supports the theory that some sort of intelligence created the universe. Professor Flew, 81, a professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Reading, said that this was the only explanation for the origin of life , "I'm thinking of a God very different from the God of the Christian and far and away from the God of Islam, because both are depicted as omnipotent Oriental despots - cosmic Saddam Husseins," he said in his new video, "Has Science Discovered God?"

Sources:

(a) NDE Analysis of Atheists:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/atheists01.html

(b) Infidel Death-Beds:
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/george_foote/infidel_deathbeds.html

(c) Did atheist philosopher see God when he 'died'?:
http://gonsalves.org/favorite/atheist.htm

(d) Can there be life after life? Ask the atheist!:
http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/18032001/Comment/Letter_From_London.html

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(53) Psychometry supports the NDE and survival theory.

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According to Wikipedia.org, "psychometry" is a psychic ability in which the user is able to relate details about the past condition of an object or area, usually by being in close contact with it. The user could allegedly, for example, give police precise details about a murder or other violent crime if they were at the crime scene or were holding the weapon used. About.com's Paranormal Phenomena website lists information about several of the most convincing psychometrists.

Stefan Ossowiecki, a Russian-born psychic, is one of the most famous psychometrists. Ossowiecki claimed to be able to see people's auras and to move objects through psychokinesis. His psychic gifts enabled this chemical engineer to locate lost objects and missing people, and he assisted in several criminal investigations. In 1935, he participated in a test of his psychometric powers - a test devised by a wealthy Hungarian named Dionizy Jonky that involved a sealed package. Jonky stipulated that this test was to be conducted eight years after his death. (Jonky and Ossowiecki did not know each other.) First, 14 photographs of men were placed in front of Ossowiecki, one of which was of Jonky. Ossowiecki picked out the correct photo. Next, Ossowiecki accurately described many details of Jonky's life and correctly identified the man who held the package for the past eight years. Finally, Ossowiecki was presented with the sealed package Jonky had prepared before his death. Ossowiecki touched the package and concentrated. "Volcanic minerals," he said. "There is something here that pulls me to other worlds, to another planet." Oddly, he also sensed sugar. Inside the package was a meteorite encased in a candy wrapper.

In later experiments, Ossowiecki performed remarkable psychometric feats with archeological objects - a kind of psychic archeology. These tests were conducted by Stanislaw Poniatowski, a professor of enthology at the University of Warsaw who could verify the accuracy of what Ossowiecki "saw." While holding a 10,000-year-old piece of flint, Ossowiecki was able to describe in amazing detail the lives of the prehistoric people who made it. In other tests he provided similar descriptions of people who lived as long ago as 300,000 years. Some of the information he provided was not even known by experts at the time, but confirmed by discoveries years later!

Ossowiecki described his visions as being like a motion picture that he could watch, pause, rewind and fast-forward - like a videotape or DVD.

Sources:

(a) "What You Need To Know About , Psychometry":
http://paranormal.about.com/cs/espinformation/a/aa063003_3.htm

(b) "A World In A Grain Of Sand: The Clairvoyance Of Stefan Ossowiecki"
by M. Barrington, Ian Stevenson, Z. Weaver.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"In the light of the near-death experience, death is nothing more than the illusion of separateness and finality, and those who can believe in this vision of death, like near-death experiencers themselves, lose all fear of it, for how can you fear that which does not exist?" - Dr. Ken Ring

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 1:11am On Apr 23, 2007

Dr Charles Tart's Autoscopic Evidence for survival of death.

http://www.near-death.com/tart.html

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 12:55am On Apr 23, 2007

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
Nferyn, just suppose for a moment that NDE's are indeed a consequence of oxygen depletion to the brain, what is that really saying?

It doesn't disprove the authenticity of the experience. This is the spirit world - independent of the permutations and limitations of physical matter. The depletion of oxygen to the brain is a sign that the spirit, the consciousness of the man is on a terminal journey out of its human coat.
Nowhere does the existence of these near death experiences indicate that there is something like a spirit world. Our brain is capable of producing these kind of experiences without having to turn to unevidenced entities such as spirits.

I can't believe you wrote this. You've OBVIOUSLY NOT READ ANY NEAR DEATH ACCOUNTS. NDE experiencers ALL speak about a spirit world to where they transited upon death. You counter the cliams of thousands of people by making reference to the last throes of a dying brain. But of course the brain SHOULD be dying for consciousness to experience a removal from the human body. The brain will hardly be in full health for this experience to occur would it? So simply identifying the physical processes of death does not in any way obviate the Near-Death Experience.

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
It simply means that consciousness is not dependent on the human body to exist. Why afterall, can we think?
Is that supposed to be a question? Consciousness is merely an emergent property of the neurological processes working in the brain. Without a functioning brain, there is no consciousness.

I disagree. You try to make consciousness out to be some form of computer. But consciousness is not a computer.

Unlike a computer, Consciousness has feelings. It has emotions, empathy, beliefs, convictions. It loves. And hates. These are not attributes that originate from this mysterious, smart-alec configuration of matter you allude to.

These are attributes of Spirit.

I would also disagree very strongly with your assertion that ''without a functioning brain, there is no consciousness''.

That betrays a deep lack of understanding of existence on your part. If at all you do believe in ANY form of non-physical intelligence, be it God, 'Satan', angels, etc etc, then you've contradicted your own theory unless you're suggesting such entities also require 'a functioning brain' in order to be conscious.

Consciousness is a form of energy, and as every science student will tell u, energy is indestructible. Therefore, Consciousness is indestructible.

Near Death Experiencers have said with death came a state of expanded awareness.

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
When the body dies, Consciousness moves on. Consciousness is Energy.
I guess your research must have given you conclusive evidence of that assertion. Care to share it with us unenlightened folk?

I suggest a more open-minded approach on your part. You seem hardly likely to consider any evidence as valid, ''conclusive'' or not. I posted a link above of a full library of documented evidence which you seem not to have even clicked on. U don't seem like you want to be convinced.

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
Remember that ALL of those who reported these experiences perceived them to be real - just as real as getting up from your bed this morning. In fact MORE real.
Our senses evolved to allow us to make sense of our environment. Both our neurological make up, as well as our sensory perceptions are limited to experiencing a very narrow band of properties of the world around us. Form, colour, shape, position, feeling and smell are merely props for the real thing. Our vision and experience of the world around us are no more an accurate depiction of reality than the drawing of a 3 year old girl is an accurate depiction of her mother. You have to excuse me if I find your 'reality' somewhat unconvincing.

Nothing you've written here is in opposition to the survival of consciousness. The important thing is CONSCIOUSNESS IS ONGOING. How the individual interpretes the reality he's confronted with is another matter. The important thing is the individual is conscious, with memories, likes, dislikes, tastes, hobbies intact.

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
Most of them claim that it is HERE - this existence that feels like a dream, compared to THERE.
A heightened sense of self caused by sensory deprivation. We can even induce these feelings through direct neurological stimulation.It's a simple 'mechanical' process.

Again, Nothing you've written here is in opposition to the survival of consciousness.
In fact, in many ways it PROVES the survival of consciousness, that physical threats to the human body (induced or otherwise) are an instant catalyst for mental experiences consistent with the survival of consciousness.

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
And how do u explain the numerous documented cases where patients that were certified dead and later revived where able to recount incidents and conversations that occurred during the time they were meant to be dead, even to the point of describing the people that were present?
I would first need to see the details of these documented cases before I could comment on them. Your assertions concerning the real meaning of these experiences however, are merely speculation

Well, to the extent that one has not directly experienced it, yes you are right. Only those who've had an NDE can truly be said to have proven it to themselves. It's not something that anyone can 'prove conclusively' to you. You simply need to study the phenomenon more closely, read some of the accounts by those who've experienced it, and draw your own conclusions. What's unforgivable is rejecting the phenomenon outright without proper investigation.

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:25:30 AM
Truth is, there's an awful lot of powerful circumstantial evidence, including scientific evidence, for the survival of consciousness, far more so than can ever be provided by religion, as a thorough review of the link below will reveal.

http://www.near-death.com/evidence.html
None of this 'evidence' can't be explained through far more mundane mechanisms. You're dragging in explanatory factors that are thus far unnecessary entities, thereby violating Occam's Razor.

And you are violating the experiences and accounts of ALL Near Death Experiencers as relating to ''uneccesary entities''. I think you need to factor in the accounts of the EXPERIENCERS themselves in any consideration of what constitutes the simplest explanation to satisfy your Occam's Razor.

The simplest explanation is indeed, that these people ARE indeed experiencing life on the other side as they've all reported.

Why make things difficult in violation of the razor, by bringing in extraneous interpretations in opposition to what the experiencers themselves are saying?

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 2:25am On Apr 21, 2007

Nferyn, just suppose for a moment that NDE's are indeed a consequence of oxygen depletion to the brain, what is that really saying?

It doesn't disprove the authenticity of the experience. Ths is the spirit world - independent of the permutations and limitations of physical matter. The depletion of oxygen to the brain is a sign that the spirit, the consciousness of the man is on a terminal journey out of its human coat.

That's ALL it means.

It simply means that consciousness is not dependent on the human body to exist. Why afterall, can we think?

All that's in our heads is slimy fluff. It's got no more reason or capability to make us think and feel than a bag of stones poured into our skulls.

What makes us think and feel and remember etc is Consciousness - Spirit.

When the body dies, Consciousness moves on. Consciousness is Energy.

Energy cannot be destroyed - it can only be transformed into another state.

Remember that ALL of those who reported these experiences perceived them to be real - just as real as getting up from your bed this morning. In fact MORE real.

Most of them claim that it is HERE - this existence that feels like a dream, compared to THERE.

And how do u explain the numerous documented cases where patients that were certified dead and later revived where able to recount incidents and conversations that occurred during the time they were meant to be dead, even to the point of describing the people that were present?

Truth is, there's an awful lot of powerful circumstantial evidence, including scientific evidence, for the survival of consciousness, far more so than can ever be provided by religion, as a thorough review of the link below will reveal.

http://www.near-death.com/evidence.html

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 9:54am On Apr 20, 2007

nferyn said:

Great stuff, trading one idiotic belief system for another one. We're replacing the Jesus freaks for the Aquarians and that's supposed to be an improvement?
Gullible ignorance masquerading as profound knowledge. Why don't you add in some post-modern gibberish as icing on the cake?

Not sure what u mean by Aquarians. This 'belief system' as u put it is independent of religious/social afiliation.

And while Biblical beliefs are grounded on parochial 3000 year old Jewish tribal myth and heralded by 'prophets', this 'belief system' is founded on accounts and experiences of real flesh and blood people from all across the world, and cuts across race, religion, and social status - people that can be, and have been traced, identified and verified.

So its really a no-contest, Nferyn.

Politics › Re: Is This True Picture Of Life In Nigeria? by Jen33(m): 11:09pm On Apr 18, 2007

https://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_roadside_chef/img/6.jpg

That looks absolutely gorgeous.

Christianity Etc › Re: The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 10:54pm On Apr 18, 2007

aproko.com said:

nice piece!!! i guess you dint get that from your pastor on sunday! so pray tell, what is the source of your info?

A good place to start for u is the link I posted right after the write-up. Spend two good hours there to start with I suggest. You'll come out far more clued up than you would after 150 hours with your pastor.

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 4:56pm On Apr 16, 2007

And I pray you drain your head of all the accumulated junk fed it by Jewish control freaks and their European collaborators.

Our people are thoroughly brainwashed.

Like a lab rat, you've been trained to see life and God ONLY through the eyes of a Europeanized Jew.

You're so brainwashed that any other perspective appears to you invalid, and you have the temerity to attempt to transfer your mental disease to me.

Go to Israel EVEN TODAY and see how your so-called ''Chosen people of God'' treat their African Jewish brethren from Ethiopia.

The Jews hand Africans, whom they regard as sub-human, their tribal religion via European slave traders and mass-murdering colonialists.

Then altogether they fuuk up our minds as we play dumb slave to their manufactured hand-me-down, PAGAN gods and ''saviours'' - fairytales which even they now shun, shaking their heads in wonderment as they watch us shamelessly play the fools that cried louder than the bereaved.

Horse shit.

'''''''

"What profit has not that fable of Christ brought us!"
Pope Leo X

PAGAN ORIGINS OF THE CHRIST MYTH :

http://www.medmalexperts.com/POCM/index.html

THE CHRIST CONSPIRACY - THE GREATEST STORY EVER SOLD

http://www.truthbeknown.com/christ.htm

Christianity Etc › Re: Ifa Orisa Religion - Is This Our True Identity: Our True Religion by Jen33(m): 1:42am On Apr 16, 2007

ABOUT TIME TOO.

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 1:26am On Apr 16, 2007

I THINK I KNOW WHAT JEN33 IS TALKING ABOUT, HE SEEMS TO BE A CROSS BEARER OF "IN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH THE GRAIL MESSAGE" BY ABDRUSHINE.

Jen33 has some knowledge but then he is not yet perfect with his mystic or philosophical knowledge.

Echidime, actually, I've never heard of the organisation you referred to. What I know comes from simple research and keeping an open mind, as well as a staunch refusal to be held down in the quest for true knowledge about existence, by religion.

1 Like

Christianity Etc › The Truth About Existence by Jen33(op): 1:39am On Apr 15, 2007

The information gathered from a variety of sources who have accessed the realms beyond our three dimensional reality - what we would term the spirit world - from seers to clairvoyants, herbalists, out of body experiencers, near death experiencers, and so on is that in the spirit world, where the Source of life we refer to as God dwells, in this dimension, the concept of time and space as we know them on earth are inoperative.

The spirit world - OUR TRUE HOME - where we all go upon passing, is said to be a vast place filled with life, learning and leisure of proportions and beauty unimaginable to humans. It even has colors that are unknown on earth.

It is not 'up there' in 'heaven', but permeates even right through us here on earth and everywhere. We cannot see this realm because they vibrate at a faster rate than us on earth. But they can be accessed, and have been accessed by generations of seers, psychics, herbalists, and Near Death Experiencers.

This is where all the people, and even animals and insects, we consider 'dead' reside, mostly in conditions of unimaginable bliss and happiness.

The spirit world is also a place of the Eternal Now.

Present, past and future can be accessed from this dimension. Time as we know it is an illusion. Linear time is simply a means for us to exist effectively on the earth plane.

In reality there is only the Eternal Now.

Space is non-existent because in this realm, you think of a place and you're there - wherever. Even communication is done via telepathy, and is said to be vastly superior to speech as a form of communication, because you can also access the communicator's feelings during the exchange.

When you understand these basic facts of existence, you'll see that the idea that 'God did not know' what 'Adam and Eve' would do, even the idea of God 'testing' the couple, etc etc, is all biblical nonsense.

NO SUCH THING HAPPENED. There was no fruit in any garden with 'Adam and Eve' on it.

''Adam'' and ''Eve'' if they did exist (highly doubtful), were the first Jews, not the first human beings.

Human beings existed in Africa and elsewhere no less than 50,000 years before ''Adam'' and ''Eve'', were invented by Jewish scribes.

Yahweh, the ''God'' of the bible is NOT GOD.

The real God of the universe, the source of all that is, does not get jealous, does not get ''angry'' does not 'test' his creation, does not order his 'chosen people' to go on killing sprees and raping escapades as does the Old testament ''God''.

These are all physical human attributes that were ascribed to the Source of All Life by Jewish scribes in their bid to control and dominate their people, and wage war against their neighbours.

God does not demand ritual human sacrifice and animal sacrifice as does the Jewish tribal god Yahweh, and He does not 'punish' people for their sins.

Such ideas are based on ancient pagan beliefs that predate Christianity and are not founded on truth.

What happens when you pass away is that you return to the spirit world, and your actions on earth are reviewed by yourself with the assistance of your spirit guide or chi, as the Igbos call them, and highly evolved entities on behalf of the Creator, who operate in a non-judgemental capacity characterised by love and understanding.

You as a spirit, operating with an expanded consciousness characterised by greater awareness, will upon being shown less than complimentary aspects of your past life, may decide by advice or of your own accord, to RETURN in another human body, to resolve karmic issues related to your last life.

You will be made to forget your full personality as a soul, as 'knowing the deal' will prevent you from accomplishing your set goals, which always are to do with spiritual development as a soul. It is said that every soul has a deep desire to attain spiritual development, and Earth and other planets are regarded as schools or boot-camps for soul development, as adverse conditions exist there that could not be found in the spirit world. By suffering, learning lessons, teaching lessons as humans, souls experience spiritual evolution.

The 'time' we spend on earth as humans is in reality - an illusion.

A seventy year life on earth is little more than the equivalent of 'an hour' in the spirit world, and it is said that in spiritual classroom sessions, students go for an earth life and return to the ongoing lesson when the life on earth is completed, just as if they'd visited the bathroom.

Reincarnation is a fact of life known to humans for over 100,000 years.

Until you start regarding everything you read in the bible and koran with a pinch of salt, down to the ridiculous, pilfered Jesus fairytale, you'll never arrive at the truth on this earth.

For more on the accounts of near-death experiencers, whom incidentally cut across ALL cultures, races and religions while sharing remarkably similar experiences of the hereafter, visit:

www.near-death.com

Christianity Etc › Re: Why Did God Plant That Tree In The Garden Of Eden? by Jen33(m): 12:39am On Apr 15, 2007

The information gathered from a variety of sources who have accessed the realms beyond our three dimensional reality - what we would term the spirit world - from seers to clairvoyants, herbalists, out of body experiencers, near death experiencers, and so on is that in the spirit world, where the Source of life we refer to as God dwells, in this dimension, the concept of time and space as we know them on earth are inoperative.

The spirit world - OUR TRUE HOME - where we all go upon passing, is said to be a vast place filled with life, learning and leisure of proportions and beauty unimaginable to humans. It even has colors that are unknown on earth.

It is not 'up there' in 'heaven', but permeates even right through us here on earth and everywhere. We cannot see this realm because they vibrate at a faster rate than us on earth. But they can be accessed, and have been accessed by generations of seers, psychics, herbalists, and Near Death Experiencers.

This is where all the people, and even animals and insects, we consider 'dead' reside, mostly in conditions of unimaginable bliss and happiness.

The spirit world is also a place of the Eternal Now.

Present, past and future can be accessed from this dimension. Time as we know it is an illusion. Linear time is simply a means for us to exist effectively on the earth plane.

In reality there is only the Eternal Now.

Space is non-existent because in this realm, you think of a place and you're there - wherever. Even communication is done via telepathy, and is said to be vastly superior to speech as a form of communication, because you can also access the communicator's feelings during the exchange.

When you understand these basic facts of existence, you'll see that the idea that 'God did not know' what 'Adam and Eve' would do, even the idea of God 'testing' the couple, etc etc, is all biblical nonsense.

NO SUCH THING HAPPENED. There was no fruit in any garden with 'Adam and Eve' on it.

''Adam'' and ''Eve'' if they did exist (highly doubtful), were the first Jews, not the first human beings.

Human beings existed in Africa and elsewhere no less than 50,000 years before ''Adam'' and ''Eve'', were invented by Jewish scribes.

Yahweh, the ''God'' of the bible is NOT GOD.

The real God of the universe, the source of all that is, does not get jealous, does not get ''angry'' does not 'test' his creation, does not order his 'chosen people' to go on killing sprees and raping escapades as does the Old testament ''God''.

These are all physical human attributes that were ascribed to the Source of All Life by Jewish scribes in their bid to control and dominate their people, and wage war against their neighbours.

God does not demand ritual human sacrifice and animal sacrifice as does the Jewish tribal god Yahweh, and He does not 'punish' people for their sins.

Such ideas are based on ancient pagan beliefs that predate Christianity and are not founded on truth.

What happens when you pass away is that you return to the spirit world, and your actions on earth are reviewed by yourself with the assistance of your spirit guide or chi, as the Igbos call them, and highly evolved entities on behalf of the Creator, who operate in a non-judgemental capacity characterised by love and understanding.

You as a spirit, operating with an expanded consciousness characterised by greater awareness, will upon being shown less than complimentary aspects of your past life, may decide by advice or of your own accord, to RETURN in another human body, to resolve karmic issues related to your last life.

You will be made to forget your full personality as a soul, as 'knowing the deal' will prevent you from accomplishing your set goals, which always are to do with spiritual development as a soul. It is said that every soul has a deep desire to attain spiritual development, and Earth and other planets are regarded as schools or boot-camps for soul development, as adverse conditions exist there that could not be found in the spirit world. By suffering, learning lessons, teaching lessons as humans, souls experience spiritual evolution.

The 'time' we spend on earth as humans is in reality - an illusion.

A seventy year life on earth is little more than the equivalent of 'an hour' in the spirit world, and it is said that in spiritual classroom sessions, students go for an earth life and return to the ongoing lesson when the life on earth is completed, just as if they'd visited the bathroom.

Reincarnation is a fact of life known to humans for over 100,000 years.

Until you start regarding everything you read in the bible and koran with a pinch of salt, down to the ridiculous, pilfered Jesus fairytale, you'll never arrive at the truth on this earth.

For more on the accounts of near-death experiencers, whom incidentally cut across ALL cultures, races and religions while sharing remarkably similar experiences of the hereafter, visit:

www.near-death.com

Christianity Etc › Re: Easter Has Pagan Origins by Jen33(m): 2:01am On Apr 13, 2007

At your service, Trini girl.

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 1:29am On Apr 12, 2007

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 02:46:07 AM
Shun those who disagree with your religious views. Romans 16:17
Romans 16:17 says I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Again Jen, you need to understand the context and not generalize. Is what Paul admonishing them to do wrong? If my purpose in life was to make you miserable and deride everything you stand for and believe in spiritually, would you want to be around me?

Trini girl, I think you're being a bit too smart for your own shoes here.

''Paul'' never said to shun those who 'make your life miserable''.

He said ''keep away from those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned''.

This basically means shun those who disagree with your religion. The 'division' and 'obstacles' referred to would manifest in their difference of opinion regarding things Christians hold dear, NOT from their formenting some sort of physical trouble or harassment of Christians.

Be real Trini girl.

Finally, you say you 'haven't the time' to tackle the numerous other verses quoted.

I really wish you'd make out the time. cool

1 Like

Christianity Etc › Re: Easter Has Pagan Origins by Jen33(m): 12:58am On Apr 12, 2007

nossycheek, I'm not a member of any particular religion and I believe in God.

To learn about the pagan roots of ALL Christian teachings visit:

http://www.medmalexperts.com/POCM/index.html

You'll need to spend a good hour or two there to grasp the reality of the situation.

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 2:46am On Apr 11, 2007

@Trini girl

Quote from: Jen33 on Yesterday at 08:56:51 PM
I'll leave u to judge what a 'correct attitude' is or is not.

Suffice it to say that truth (and falsehood by the way) CAN come as a softly whispered entreaty AND as a bellowed declaration from a rooftop - Either way it still remains what it is,

Afterall, your saviour was known to lose his temper by pulling out the whip in the temple and driving out the rabble in a fit of indignation, so who r u to talk? His 'attitude' there sure as hell stank.

Kindest Regards
I agree. But OUR Saviour always spoke the truth in LOVE and never insulted anyone (as we all have the tendency to do)

Oh yeah. Did Jesus not call the traders in the temple 'vipers of wilted sepulchre'?

Not exactly something you'd say around the kids is it, Trini girl?

And what about the daily insults on our collective intelligence exemplified by this, coming straight from your ''holy book'':

Biblical/Pentateuch Intolerance:

Intolerance of various religions is the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, Muslim and many other orthodox communities. Matter of fact, the Bible and Pentateuch commands religious intolerance in MANY verses, even to the point of KILLING people for their beliefs. Here then, are a few choice verses that show just how intolerant these religionists are of other believers and nonbelievers. We shall start with the two verses that helped to inflict one of the biggest mass murders in history, the Inquisition.

Woman with “familiar spirits” must be stoned to death. Leviticus 20:27

“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Exodus 22:18

Kill those who are not Christian or Jewish:

You must kill those who worship another god. Exodus 22:20

Kill any friends or family that worship a god that is different than your own. Deuteronomy 13:6-10

Kill all the inhabitants of any city where you find people that worship differently than you. Deuteronomy 13:12-16

Kill everyone who has religious views that are different than your own. Deuteronomy 17:2-7

Kill anyone who refuses to listen to a priest. Deuteronomy 17:12-13

Kill any false prophets. Deuteronomy 18:20

Any city that doesn’t receive the followers of Jesus will be destroyed in a manner even more savage than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Mark 6:11

Jude reminds us that God destroys those who don’t believe in him. Jude 5

Ignorance is bliss. Christians should not practice free inquiry nor socialize with non Christians:

Don’t associate with non-Christians. Don’t receive them into your house or even exchange greeting with them. 2 John 1:10

Shun those who disagree with your religious views. Romans 16:17

Paul, knowing that their faith would crumble if subjected to free and critical inquiry, tells his followers to avoid philosophy. Colossians 2:8

Judge other religions for not following Christ:

Whoever denies “that Jesus is the Christ” is a liar and an anti-Christ. 1 John 2:22

Christians are “of God;” everyone else is wicked. 1 John 5:19

The non-Christian is “a deceiver and an anti-Christ” 2 John 1:7

Anyone who doesn’t share Paul’s beliefs has “an evil heart.” Hebrews 3:12

False Jews are members of “the synagogue of Satan.” Revelations 2:9, 3:9

Here are my two personal favorites:

Everyone will have to worship Jesus -- whether they want to or not. Philippians 2:10

A Christian can not be accused of any wrongdoing. Romans 8:33

1 Like

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 2:32am On Apr 11, 2007

Omoge, read the Near Death Experience of this gentleman to know what happens to consciousness at death.

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/reincarnation04.html

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 8:56pm On Apr 10, 2007

Is that reciprocal or have you appointed yourself the guiding light for the path out of religious ignorance into cosmic euphoria?

Try another one. We both know that truth can be a weapon used to antagonize and condescend, or to enlighten and enrich, it's all in the delivery and the motive.

If you have a better way, then you should have a better attitude.

I'll leave u to judge what a 'correct attitude' is or is not.

Suffice it to say that truth (and falsehood by the way) CAN come as a softly whispered entreaty AND as a bellowed declaration from a rooftop - Either way it still remains what it is..

Afterall, your saviour was known to lose his temper by pulling out the whip in the temple and driving out the rabble in a fit of indignation, so who r u to talk? His 'attitude' there sure as hell stank.

Kindest Regards

Christianity Etc › Re: Easter Has Pagan Origins by Jen33(m): 8:43pm On Apr 10, 2007

Christianity is an ancient pagan religion, and this is seen in ALL her tenets. ALL her philosophies, ALL her creeds, and ALL the beliefs that Christians hold.

The concept of a saviour god/man is based on pagan beliefs.

The concept of hell is based on pagan beliefs.

The concept of a devil aka Satan is based on pagan beliefs.

The concept of heaven is based on pagan beliefs.

Christmas is based on pagan beliefs.

Baptism is based on pagan beliefs, ancient water purification rites were the virtual definition of mediterranean paganism long before the invention of Christianity.

The Sabbath is based on pagan beliefs.

The virgin birth is based on pagan beliefs.

The story of the resurrection of Christ is based on ancient pagan beliefs.

Individual salvation based on one's good works is based on pagan beliefs.

And on and on it goes.

Christianity is an ancient pagan religion masquerading as something different.

Do not be fooled by what priests in fancy gowns say - all they're after is your money - and your mind.

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 8:25pm On Apr 10, 2007

Trini girl said:

Jen don't u ever tire. If what you're saying is true it would seem that you're no better than the thing you despise since you lack one of the basic elements of any true spiritualism; love and tolerance. Your hate has consumed you.

It is not 'hate' to say the truth, ie that your holy book is a disastrous misrepresentation of the Godhead and the nature and purpose of existence.

And like everyone else, I wouldn't be here if I was perfect. I'd be seated metaphorically at the right hand of the Almighty.

We are all here to make mistakes and learn, as well as teach, and return home the wiser.

Christianity Etc › Re: Astral Travel Or Out Of Body Experiences by Jen33(m): 8:01pm On Apr 10, 2007

I can direct u to the MTV Base site if u missed your way, teenager.

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