Holy Land in 70 Seconds

The Holy Land in 70 Seconds Hananya Naftali about 5 months ago · The Holy Land in 70 Seconds. #ShareTheTruth

The country’s southern provinces - Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat and Pattaya - have gotten a bad reputation for security in the country in the last thirteen years. Pattaya has particularly suffered a spate of muggings by motorcycle operators, and there have been incidences of mugging of tourists by gangs in the area, mostly made up of young boys. More than 6,500 deaths have unfortunately occurred because of violence, and there is a martial law in the region. Read more: http://wojournals.com/top-20-most-dangerous-countries-in-the-world-for-tourists.html

TOP 20 MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD FOR TOURISTS NOV 25, 2017 AT 02:31 AM 3707931 When the travelling bug bites you, you want to explore as many countries in the world as you possibly can. If you have planned for that long pending holiday that can assist you to relax and let go of the problems you face at your job or at home, you may have wondered about the safety of where you plan to visit. Because holidays are something to be treasured, do not risk ruining them because of bad experiences. The bitter truth is, some nations are better for you to go than others. Earlier this year, the WEF (World Economic Forum) released the annual Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report that studies the travel and tourism sectors in 136 nations worldwide. The additional feature that comes along with the report is ranking the security of these countries. It does not account for petty crimes though; just the extent to which a country exposes businesses as well as tourists to safety risks via terrorism and violence. In no particular order, here are the twenty most dangerous countries that you can consider crossing off your bucket list. THAILAND The country’s southern provinces - Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat and Pattaya - have gotten a bad reputation for security in the country in the last thirteen years. Pattaya has particularly suffered a spate of muggings by motorcycle operators, and there have been incidences of mugging of tourists by gangs in the area, mostly made up of young boys. More than 6,500 deaths have unfortunately occurred because of violence, and there is a martial law in the region. Click "Next" to continue reading: Content on WoJournals.com doesn't constitute, nor is meant to constitute, professional advice of any kind. You should always consult a suitably qualified appropriate professional regarding any specific problem or matter. Read more: http://wojournals.com/top-20-most-dangerous-countries-in-the-world-for-tourists.html

The Human Body in Numbers

The Human Body in Numbers Hashem Al-Ghaili added a new episode

Death By Ministry Contributed by: Eugene Cho // One Days Wages Several years ago, I spent several hours per week doing research (and meeting with other pastors) about pastoral health and vitality for my denomination. I chose to spend some time doing that for selfish reasons. I was and am still learning how to take better care of myself in ministry while completely acknowledging that sometimes, it's not supposed to feel right. We all know that work...well...is supposed to be laborious. And those in ministry know that ministry in itself is difficult. There's no way to get around it, but... Continue Reading »

Print Save View article Death By Ministry Death By Ministry By Eugene Cho on Apr 21, 2011 One Days Wages based on 3 ratings (rate this article) | 5,268 views Is pastoral ministry a dangerous profession? Eugene Cho shares the facts. Scripture: None (Suggest Scripture) Tags: Ministry, Leadership, Pastor, Servanthood (view more) Several years ago, I spent several hours per week doing research (and meeting with other pastors) about pastoral health and vitality for my denomination. I chose to spend some time doing that for selfish reasons. I was and am still learning how to take better care of myself in ministry while completely acknowledging that sometimes, it's not supposed to feel right. We all know that work...well...is supposed to be laborious. And those in ministry know that ministry in itself is difficult. There's no way to get around it, but... More Questions Than Answers? Frankly, there seem to be more questions than answers. But the Bible commands us to be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). To be honest, there was a time when I was not prepared to answer these questions, either. However, after 50 years of pondering them, I have discovered some things that satisfy me. In the hope that others may be helped, too, I have compiled a great many insights and answers in my recent book, If God, Why Evil? It attempts to respond to all of these questions and more in a simple, biblical, and reasonable way. Below is an abbreviated compilation that I hope preachers will find of great benefit and use in their sermons. What I learned was pretty shocking and heartbreaking, but one of the conclusions I came to was that as ministry leaders, pastors, and other pursuers of God's work, it helps to understand some of the challenges ahead and to be proactive rather than reactive. I can focus an entry purely on the joys and blessings of pastoral ministry and feel confident I can write a compelling piece. But these statistics (and stories that many of us are aware of) and our personal stories are hard to ignore. Here's a summary of what I learned: There are varying reports from different sources, but I believe most will agree that the ministerial profession (life as pastors) is now considered one of the most dangerous or unhealthiest professions. It's usually rated last or second to last. Read this comment from a local Northwest minister, Mark: "At the first church I served, we had an insurance agent who was a member of the congregation. When I went to see him about some auto insurance needs, he said ‘Hey, wanna see something that will scare you to death?'...He pulled out a form that had various professions rated for their risk of giving life insurance policies to...Anyway, to make a lengthening story shorter, he showed me that clergy members were in the same category as deep sea welders and loggers as the second highest risk group to give life insurance policies to. We were behind crab fishermen but ahead of munitions workers. "It was a little disturbing to know that statistically I was gonna die due to my profession before someone who builds explosives. This was back in 1994; the statistics may be better (or worse) now." If you don't believe the above comment, read some of these statistics: Forty-eight percent of them think their work is hazardous to their family's well-being. Another 45.5% will experience burnout or depression that will make them leave their jobs. And 70% say their self-esteem is lower now than when they started their position. They have the second highest divorce rate among professions. Who are "they"? They are pastors. Here are some more overwhelming statistics: 80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with spouse and that ministry has a negative effect on their family. 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner once a month. 33% say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family. 75% report they've had a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry. 58% of pastors indicate that their spouse needs to work either part-time or full-time to supplement the family income. 56% of pastors' wives say they have no close friends. Pastors who work fewer than 50 hours per week are 35% more likely to be terminated. 40% of pastors considered leaving the pastorate in the past three months. Feeling dizzy? Take a breath. Here are some more statistics: 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. 50% of pastors' marriages will end in divorce. 80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors. 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years. 70% of pastors constantly fight depression. Almost 40% polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry. 70% said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons. [Compiled by Darrin Patrick] While I love being a pastor and even more, being called to be a pastor, I want folks to know how incredibly difficult it is at times to handle the complexities and stress of being a minister. Finally, at the age of 39, I feel more at peace with how to create boundaries, love my church, better care for my wife and children, support my fellow staff, handle criticism, etc., but there are times I feel clueless and overwhelmed. I've been having occasional visitors from a blog started by and for pastors' wives [couldn't find one for pastors' husbands]. Some of their comments have been difficult to read because they hit so close to home. I will not post a link to their blog here, but here are two comments: Preach Your BEST Easter Sermon GET STARTED "Oh, and the financial part is tough. We live on poverty level. I don't know how we are going to pay all the bills sometimes, much less buy groceries. The Lord always comes through, though, and on a really tough week, someone in the church will anonymously give us a gift. We have no in-between at our church. It's either people trying to help us out (it's all there what we make each week—in black and white), or it's people that have this attitude: ‘Pastors are supposed to suffer and sacrifice. It's part of the job.' Has anyone else noticed that mentality? I don't know where it comes from, and it is one of my biggest pet peeves. Pastors aren't supposed to drive nice cars, have nice houses, or buy new clothes. And we are always supposed to be worried about making ends meet—I wonder if it is just half of my church that thinks that way." Here's the second comment: "Today my son approached my husband and randomly said, ‘I guess you're going back to church now.' And he wasn't going anywhere! During seminary, he would walk around the house saying, ‘Bye bye, Daddy. Bye bye, Daddy!' So sad, but very true. It's definitely a calling, isn't it? I told my husband the other day: ‘In my classes that I took to prepare me to be a minister's wife, they told me over and over again, ‘it is the loneliest job in the world,' but I never realized it until we were in the role...'" While I feel solid support from my staff, my elder board, and the church as a whole, I know that many of my peers do not feel this way. Simply, pastors are often underpaid, underappreciated, and at times, undermined. There is strain on their marriages and families. Two other incredibly real factors that add complexities to the ministerial calling are: 1) the cultural complexity and dynamic of the 21st century and 2) the nebulous but real nature of the spiritual realm and battle. The reality is that being a pastor is not just merely a job, nor should it be one. Ministry is a calling. It's both amazing and incredibly difficult. While it isn't my desire to overdramatize the significance of ministry, I do believe that the Evil One seeks to impede and harm the work that is to take place through ministers and pastors. As for the "cultural complexity of the 21st century," I think this quote captures my sentiment: "My viewpoint tends to be more organizational, so my take on being a pastor is that it is an impossible job. Here you are asked to be the lead preacher and teacher, available for counseling sessions, leading a staff of people that can span such responsibilities as missions and janitorial, serving as the public face for your organization in the community, networking with other leaders at Christian conferences and denominational gatherings. That's a lot of hats! ...Let's finally consider the financial issues. I don't believe pastors are paid very well, so that's obviously a downer. And if you are paid well, and sometimes even if you aren't, that has its own issues, for congregants can quite easily feel they own you, since they're paying your way. In what other organization is the person at the top in such an awkward financial relationship with his or her co-workers and clients?" My point is very simple: Please care, pray, and love your pastors (and church staff) in your churches. Seriously, give them a nice pay raise, more time off, regular opportunities to get away for even a day retreat to pray, buy them some dinner certificates, honor their spouses, love their children, pray for them, and regularly share your appreciation and affirmation. Now, I know that this can easily be intended to perpetuate the victim language or mentality, but it's a two-way street. Churches must seek to honor and care for their pastors and staff and build healthy structures to ensure such care. Similarly, pastors and their families must make choices to be holistically healthy! We must rest, Sabbath, enjoy God, love the Scriptures not simply for the sake of sermon preparations, be in deep friendships and community, exercise, work on our jump shot, continue to be a reader and learner, love and honor our spouses, nurture our children, laugh and have fun, eat healthy and drink good refreshments [use your imagination here], examine and repent of any possible addictions, and [add your contribution here]. We need to lean on God, stop our self-sufficiency, and repent of the idolatry to please all those around us. Easier said than done, but it needs to begin somewhere. Why not now? Some good news: Despite the intense nature of pastoral ministry, it is also immensely fulfilling. Huh? It makes total sense to me. According to a recent survey, the top five professions are clergy, physical therapists, firefighters, education administrators, and painters/sculptors: Clergy ranked by far the most satisfied and the most generally happy of 198 occupations. Eighty-seven percent of clergy said they were "very satisfied" with their work, compared with an average of 47 percent for all workers. Sixty-seven percent reported being "very happy," compared with an average of 33 percent for all workers. Jackson Carroll, Williams professor emeritus of religion and society at Duke Divinity School, found similarly high satisfaction when he studied Protestant and Catholic clergy, despite relatively modest salaries and long hours. "They look at their occupation as a calling," Carroll said. "A pastor does get called on to enter into some of the deepest moments of a person's life, celebrating a birth and sitting with people at times of illness or death. There's a lot of fulfillment." [read the entire article] So while pastoral ministry is at times exhausting, draining, depressing, and overwhelming, it's also meaningful and fulfilling. May God grant you grace, courage, and strength. God bless you pastors. God bless your spouses and your children. May you bless your flock and may you be blessed by them. And together, may you bless the Lord as you seek to bless His creation. Eugene Cho (website: One Days Wages) View all articles by Eugene Cho Eugene Cho is the co-founder (with his wife) and executive director of One Day's Wages—"a movement of People, Stories, and Actions to alleviate extreme global poverty." He is also the founding and lead pastor of Quest Church and the founder and executive director of Q Cafe—a non-profit community cafe and music venue in Seattle. Eugene is considered one of the prominent bloggers on issues of justice, faith, ministry, and utilizing social media for good. You can follow him via his blog or Twitter. Browse All Related Preaching Articles View article 6 Surprising Leadership Principles From The Bible 6 Surprising Leadership Principles From The Bible By Tom Harper on Feb 28, 2011 based on 5 ratings | 42,993 views Tom Harper traveled through the whole of Scripture looking for one fresh leadership principle in every book ... learn what he found. Scripture: Judges 8:3, Proverbs 29:22, Hosea 3:1-5 Tags: John, Wisdom, Leadership, Pastor (view more) View article The Arrogance Of Preaching The Arrogance Of Preaching By Kenton Anderson on Feb 14, 2011 based on 2 ratings | 9,117 views Preaching appears arrogant to people overwhelmed by the limitations of their perspective. Perspective becomes an asset as the preacher bears witness to God in the flesh. 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Scripture: Proverbs 16:3 Tags: Church, Preaching, Pastor, Communication General View article 4 Instances Not To Mention Hell In Your Preaching 4 Instances Not To Mention Hell In Your Preaching By Larry Moyer on Oct 25, 2010 | 16,812 views There are times when hell should never be mentioned in our preaching. In fact, when hell is mentioned during these times, it may dishonor Christ more than honor Him and do more disservice to the gospel than service. Scripture: Mark 9:43-48, Exodus 1:1-2:1, Leviticus 1:1-2:1, Numbers 1:2-3:2 Tags: Hell, Lust, Wisdom, Satan (view more) View article 5 Top Priorities For Increasing Your Church 5 Top Priorities For Increasing Your Church By Charles Arn on Sep 1, 2010 based on 1 rating | 20,965 views Whether you’re in a church of 20 or 20,000, these principles will help you to invest the talents God has given to your church. Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30 Tags: Growth, Discipleship, Leadership, Pastor (view more) View article Getting An Approachability Checkup Getting An Approachability Checkup By Ken Sande on Aug 9, 2010 based on 4 ratings | 12,888 views An expert in conflict management, Ken Sande brings his expertise to pastors and leaders to help them relate better with their congregation, co-workers, and families. Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Philippians 2:3-4, Matthew 18:12-14, 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (view more) Tags: Church, Peace, Leadership, Pastor (view more) View article Reasonable Compensation For Pastors And Ministers Reasonable Compensation For Pastors And Ministers By Thomas Winters on Aug 2, 2010 based on 1 rating | 21,958 views Ministry compensation specialist Tom Winters, Esq., guides pastors and church leaders through the sometimes tricky compensation analysis process. Tags: Money, Leader, Budget, Pastor (view more) More Preaching Articles >> Talk about it... Aandrea Jones avatar Aandrea Jones commented on Mar 14, 2011 Hi I am healing from what you are talking about. Death by ministry is a brillant and true article. I was married to an assistant pastor and was suffered depression, feeling severely inadequate, ridicule, outcast, slandered,and harshly labeled and misjudged. I also served as a prphetess in the minister and was not respected in the call because of past hurtful things that I had overcame before salvation. There is much need for prayer and the true doctrine of Christ in the Bible to be re-introduced and re-visited in the The Church Era. I am divorced, not a part of a ministry and am lost and scaared to go among so called church people, in this world,as to link up and to attempt to do the Lord's work with such people again. Sign in to reply to this comment Todd Vaters avatar Todd Vaters commented on Mar 14, 2011 This is sad but what it doesn't address is how much of the problem is created by drifting from a Biblical definition of the Church and ministry. Doing God's work man's way will always lead to burnout. Also, in many chuches Pastors are in a 'special' class, above and beyond any Biblical designation. This feeds the comfort cravings of congregants and the ego of Pastors in an unhealthy cylce. Giving a Pastor a raise is great but it won't address root issues. Pastors must turn the tide by teaching and modeling the Biblical purpose of pastoring... equiping the saints for ministry. Sign in to reply to this comment Paul Curry avatar Paul Curry commented on Mar 14, 2011 Food for thought: I have been a pastor now for over 10yrs and yes I can identify with all the struggles. I have had to struggle with the fact that the money could possibly not be there to pay me. I have been forced terminated. And yes,even in my current pastorate my wife has to be the "bread winner". However, I am seeing a shift among the minds of people towards ministers. People are coming to us left and right now wanting to know how to be frugal. People in our area are being layed off or receiving cut back in their hrs. of work. People are looking unto me and my wife to teach them these values of contentment and being frugal. As ministers we must constantly remind ourselves it is about opportunities to minister and not so much about the haves and have nots. When we struggle and desire to be like the Jones, be mindful of those who are persecuted for their faith. Why could we possibly complain about our lack of material things when they are dying for the cause of Christ? Sign in to reply to this comment Myron Heckman avatar Myron Heckman commented on Mar 14, 2011 This article is helpful in reminding us of the real suffering some of our colleagues and their spouses go through. Virtually all pastors and wives have been through it at some point, and to varying degrees – it is excruciating. Thanks for that. May God redeem the scars that are left. We have to have careful not to fall into self-pity or a victim identity, which saps ambition and taking responsibility for what we can do. We are called to endure hardships as good soldiers (II Timothy 2:3-4). In the statistics, I find at least these three unlikely - 50% of pastors' marriages will end in divorce. 70% of pastors constantly fight depression. Almost 40% polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry. I’m sure the actual numbers are higher than we’d like to admit, but when the data contradict common sense, doubt the data. Especially when they are contradicted with this quote: “Clergy ranked by far the most satisfied and the most generally happy of 198 occupations. Eighty-seven percent of clergy said they were "very satisfied" with their work, compared with an average of 47 percent for all workers. Sixty-seven percent reported being "very happy," compared with an average of 33 percent for all workers.” Sign in to reply to this comment Betty Johnson avatar Betty Johnson commented on Mar 14, 2011 I can identify with each of the struggles you mention in your article, especially the loneliness. Just as one negative comment can sometimes hurt for a long time, I have been warmed by the strength of one positive comment. About 4 years ago, as I was at the bedside of a dying parishioner, with some of his family and friends at his side, as I was getting ready to leave, one of those visitors, stepped aside to speak to me more privately. He said, "It was nice to meet you. And thank you for being a pastor." I looked at him in stunned silence and he noticed. He said, "It's not easy - what you do - thank you for being a Pastor." A few days later, after the funeral, this same man made a point to find me. He laid his hand on my arm and said again, "Remember - I meant what I said - Thank you for being a pastor." I have never heard those words before or since but I have been strengthened and comforted often during the last four years of ministry by this simple statement said with meaning and depth. Sign in to reply to this comment Don Berry-Graham avatar Don Berry-Graham commented on Mar 14, 2011 I have experienced all of the above and then some. 20 years ago I lost my wife to cancer and 2 years later I remarried a wonderful women who would take me and the church on and my three kids. First thing she did was say what will you do once you retire. I had never thought of it. Get a hobby was her response. And she did not let up. Gail was not with me as I went to seminary like my late wife but she understood nasty church people. She might be little but she is unbelievable. She puts up with nothing from church snobs and if they dish it out she dishes it right back. She has been a Executive director of secular charities and has taught me so much and given me so much courage. Last year I faced cancer and know that without her in my life I would have simply given up. I have a couple of great hobbies and lots of friens outside the church and my life does not revolve around my job any longer. It is amazing feeling. I hightly recommend a life outside of the job. Sign in to reply to this comment Paul Wallace avatar Paul Wallace commented on Mar 14, 2011 Todd - I know what you are saying... but consider this. I minister in an elder led Bible church. I guess you would say I'm the lead elder. We make every effort to do everything by the Book while staying open to the leading of the Spirit. Our purpose is to feed the flock, protect them, and equip them for ministry. Though that surely lessens the problems, it does not keep power hungry people from disrupting and distracting, nor does it keep wolves from sneaking in to devour the flock, nor does it protect from people that have their own agenda. The call to ministry is a call to die to self to serve the Lord, regardless of how your church functions. There will always be tares until we meet Him in the air. Sign in to reply to this comment Mike Ingo avatar Mike Ingo commented on Mar 14, 2011 In your article published at Churchleaders.com you also listed: "Clergy ranked by far the most satisfied and the most generally happy of 198 occupations. Eighty-seven percent of clergy said they were “very satisfied” with their work, compared with an average 47 percent for all workers. Sixty-seven percent reported being “very happy,” compared with an average 33 percent for all workers." Is it just me, or are the statistics confusing?! Sign in to reply to this comment Rev. Thomas Chacko avatar Rev. Thomas Chacko commented on Mar 14, 2011 What the author said could be true in many cases because I have been seing this trend in many of my collegues lives. Thank God I haven't experienced the same though I have been involved in ministry of one kind or the other all my life. Now being an ordained minister and serving a congregation for about 14 years, though at times there were times i was discouraged due to somethings happening in the church, especially in my previous church where I stayed only two years(Thank God in our denomination we can ask for a transfer) generally people are very nice( and having come from another country, we haven't felt discrimination. My wife (of 32 years) works outside. But one thing I make sure is that she is not involved in the church ministry or affairs except singing in the choir. We live within our means, educate our children, don't even care to eat outside and we have no complaints. The church gave me raise consecutive years and I gave it back to the church. Church people are nice and loving, but we do not have much of friends, like many pastors. I wouldn't do anything else in my life. There is joy, there is contentment there are challenges. It's all part of the territory. Thanks be to God Sign in to reply to this comment Jo-Ann Mlakar avatar Jo-Ann Mlakar commented on Mar 14, 2011 I thought that this was such an excellent presentation of how ministry can be very challenging that I made copies of it for the leadership of the church. My purpose in distributing it was to encourage the leadership to pray for other pastors in our immediate area who are struggling. I have felt very blessed to be in a fellowship where the leadership has always been very supportive & even protective of me, (pastor) going above & beyond to facilitate my spiritual emotional & physical health. So I was SURPRISED when one of the leadership told me that the article made her angry, that pastors who struggle with these issues have no business being in ministry. What I saw was a total lack of compassion, from someone who is usually very compassionate. It makes me realize that even in churches where the specific issues mentioned are not currently an issue, they can be. Sign in to reply to this comment Peter Thomas avatar Peter Thomas commented on Mar 14, 2011 "I want folks to know how incredibly difficult it is at times to handle the complexities and stress of being a minister." I completely agree! I compare the challenges of ministry to juggling with live chickens. So many different things to keep in the air at once. All kinds of pressures which most folks doing most jobs do not face. “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5) After 25 years in ministry I have posted my reflections online at www.pbthomas.com/jugglingwithchickens/ Sign in to reply to this comment Dr. Kerry Smith avatar Dr. Kerry Smith commented on Mar 14, 2011 I am beginning my 25th year of pastoral ministry..The 25 years have led me through 4 separate churches. I too have been lied about, spit on-literally, attempted forced termination, threatened, had my office has been bugged, video taped and invited out behind the church after a service for someone to get even with me-physically. In addition, I have suffered 3 heart attacks, a brain tumor, panic disorder, nerve problems, 2 knee replacements elevated blood pressure and blood sugar...and only by the grace of God..do I continue. Through all of the issues that deal with being a pastor..occasionally it is real good. Like when someone finds Christ as their Savior, receives healing,restoration or finds peace. I am confident I will eventually die..due to the stress of pastoring...but when that happens.. I WIN!! Thanks God Sign in to reply to this comment Anonymous Baptist Minister avatar Anonymous Baptist Minister commented on Mar 14, 2011 If it weren't for people, ministry wouldn't be that bad. "People" can include those on staff as well as those in the pew. Ministry is certainly tough, but even though it is somewhat cliche, Jesus died for that knucklehead who's giving you grief as much as he did for you! That helps give me some perspective. I discuss these types of issues on my blogspot blog. Just search for my "name" in blogs. Sign in to reply to this comment Norman Mayfield avatar Norman Mayfield commented on Mar 15, 2011 As I recall Spurgeon suffered from sever depression. John calvin suffered from a variety of illnesses, M.Luther also. "unto you it is given not only to believe on Christ but also to suffer for Him. Phil 1:29 Christ left us an example...If the world hates me it will also hate you... Sign in to reply to this comment Margaret Liggins avatar Margaret Liggins commented on Mar 15, 2011 Andrea My heart actually fell when I read your comment. I am not a pastor, nor the wife of one, not even clergy, but somehow, I feel your pain. My words to you: Don't let the enemy take from you that which the Holy Spirit empowered you with. You know that the enemies job is to kill, steal and destroy. You're letting him do that to you. Pick yourself up and get back in the race. Scared to go among 'church people'. That is just what you are suppose to do and make the Churched people. God did not give you fear. The enemy has placed this in your mind. Rebuke that! Do what God has called you to do and that is to expound on His Word - to tell the people what thus sayeth the Lord. "There is much need for prayer and the true doctrine of Christ in the Bible....." That's your job. Stop wallowing in self pity and ask the Lord Jesus for strength and forgivness, yes, and get back to work. Sign in to reply to this comment Robert Yount avatar Robert Yount commented on Mar 16, 2011 I have been in ministry for 40 years. "Pay the man Shirley" Sign in to reply to this comment Josh Guess avatar Josh Guess commented on Mar 17, 2011 Is it possible all these dire statistics are the results of a widespread misunderstanding of the pastor's role in the church rather than the suffering promised from living a life devoted to God? Sign in to reply to this comment Paul Morton avatar Paul Morton commented on Mar 20, 2011 "They have the second highest divorce rate among professions." Where did you get this statistic? I can locate no research that has reported this. Sign in to reply to this comment Michael Redmond avatar Michael Redmond commented on Mar 21, 2011 I find interesting all the comments about how pastors are supposed to suffer or, at least, expect to suffer. I thought suffering was something all Christians should expect - "take up your cross..." I wonder how many of those comments came from non-clergy, especially those who have an issue with pastors being in a "special class." Sign in to reply to this comment David Riddering avatar David Riddering commented on Mar 28, 2011 I hear what you are saying. I have been pastoring part or full time for more than 35 years. Some of your stats may need reviewing, though, and how could you have been pondering these questions for 50 years, when you later sa you are 39 years old? I assume this was a typo, but at first I thought you were an old man, and then saw your picture and your age. Anyway, I wont hold it against you, and I know what you are talking about. Keep the faith... we will reap the rewards if we do not give up. Sign in to reply to this comment Gerard Newsom avatar Gerard Newsom commented on Mar 21, 2018 Good article. Question, you state that you have been pondering this for over 50 years in the second paragraph of this article. I then see where you admit to being 39 (wish I was 39 again). At any rate...did I miss something? Sign in to reply to this comment

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28 Signs That The West Coast Is Being Absolutely Fried With Nuclear Radiation From Fukushima

113K 1588 1301 117K 295 113 Google + Posted on: Wednesday, October 23rd 2013 at 5:30 am Written By: Michael T. Synder This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2016 Visit our Re-post guidelines Originally published on Activist Post. Like them on Facebook. The map below comes from the Nuclear Emergency Tracking Center. It shows that radiation levels at radiation monitoring stations all over the country are elevated. As you will notice, this is particularly true along the west coast of the United States. Every single day, 300 tons of radioactive water from Fukushima enters the Pacific Ocean. That means that the total amount of radioactive material released from Fukushima is constantly increasing, and it is steadily building up in our food chain. Ultimately, all of this nuclear radiation will outlive all of us by a very wide margin. They are saying that it could take up to 40 years to clean up the Fukushima disaster, and meanwhile countless innocent people will develop cancer and other health problems as a result of exposure to high levels of nuclear radiation. We are talking about a nuclear disaster that is absolutely unprecedented, and it is constantly getting worse. The following are 28 signs that the west coast of North America is being absolutely fried with nuclear radiation from Fukushima... 1. Polar bears, seals and walruses along the Alaska coastline are suffering from fur loss and open sores... Wildlife experts are studying whether fur loss and open sores detected in nine polar bears in recent weeks is widespread and related to similar incidents among seals and walruses. The bears were among 33 spotted near Barrow, Alaska, during routine survey work along the Arctic coastline. Tests showed they had "alopecia, or loss of fur, and other skin lesions," the U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement. 2. There is an epidemic of sea lion deaths along the California coastline... At island rookeries off the Southern California coast, 45 percent of the pups born in June have died, said Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service based in Seattle. Normally, less than one-third of the pups would die. It's gotten so bad in the past two weeks that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an "unusual mortality event." 3. Along the Pacific coast of Canada and the Alaska coastline, the population of sockeye salmon is at a historic low. Many are blaming Fukushima. 4. Something is causing fish all along the west coast of Canada to bleed from their gills, bellies and eyeballs. 5. A vast field of radioactive debris from Fukushima that is approximately the size of California has crossed the Pacific Ocean and is starting to collide with the west coast. 6. It is being projected that the radioactivity of coastal waters off the U.S. west coast could double over the next five to six years. 7. Experts have found very high levels of cesium-137 in plankton living in the waters of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the west coast. 8. One test in California found that 15 out of 15 bluefin tuna were contaminated with radiation from Fukushima. 9. Back in 2012, the Vancouver Sun reported that cesium-137 was being found in a very high percentage of the fish that Japan was selling to Canada... • 73 percent of mackerel tested • 91 percent of the halibut • 92 percent of the sardines • 93 percent of the tuna and eel • 94 percent of the cod and anchovies • 100 percent of the carp, seaweed, shark and monkfish 10. Canadian authorities are finding extremely high levels of nuclear radiation in certain fish samples... Some fish samples tested to date have had very high levels of radiation: one sea bass sample collected in July, for example, had 1,000 becquerels per kilogram of cesium. 11. Some experts believe that we could see very high levels of cancer along the west coast just from people eating contaminated fish... "Look at what's going on now: They're dumping huge amounts of radioactivity into the ocean — no one expected that in 2011," Daniel Hirsch, a nuclear policy lecturer at the University of California-Santa Cruz, told Global Security Newswire. "We could have large numbers of cancer from ingestion of fish." 12. BBC News recently reported that radiation levels around Fukushima are "18 times higher" than previously believed. 13. An EU-funded study concluded that Fukushima released up to 210 quadrillion becquerels of cesium-137 into the atmosphere. 14. Atmospheric radiation from Fukushima reached the west coast of the United States within a few days back in 2011. 15. At this point, 300 tons of contaminated water is pouring into the Pacific Ocean from Fukushima every single day. 16. A senior researcher of marine chemistry at the Japan Meteorological Agency's Meteorological Research Institute says that "30 billion becquerels of radioactive cesium and 30 billion becquerels of radioactive strontium" are being released into the Pacific Ocean from Fukushima every single day. 17. According to Tepco, a total of somewhere between 20 trillion and 40 trillion becquerels of radioactive tritium have gotten into the Pacific Ocean since the Fukushima disaster first began. 18. According to a professor at Tokyo University, 3 gigabecquerels of cesium-137 are flowing into the port at Fukushima Daiichi every single day. 19. It has been estimated that up to 100 times as much nuclear radiation has been released into the ocean from Fukushima than was released during the entire Chernobyl disaster. 20. One recent study concluded that a very large plume of cesium-137 from the Fukushima disaster will start flowing into U.S. coastal waters early next year... Ocean simulations showed that the plume of radioactive cesium-137 released by the Fukushima disaster in 2011 could begin flowing into U.S. coastal waters starting in early 2014 and peak in 2016. 21. It is being projected that significant levels of cesium-137 will reach every corner of the Pacific Ocean by the year 2020. 22. It is being projected that the entire Pacific Ocean will soon "have cesium levels 5 to 10 times higher" than what we witnessed during the era of heavy atomic bomb testing in the Pacific many decades ago. 23. The immense amounts of nuclear radiation getting into the water in the Pacific Ocean has caused environmental activist Joe Martino to issue the following warning... Your days of eating Pacific Ocean fish are over. 24. The Iodine-131, Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 that are constantly coming from Fukushima are going to affect the health of those living the the northern hemisphere for a very, very long time. Just consider what Harvey Wasserman had to say about this... Iodine-131, for example, can be ingested into the thyroid, where it emits beta particles (electrons) that damage tissue. A plague of damaged thyroids has already been reported among as many as 40 percent of the children in the Fukushima area. That percentage can only go higher. In developing youngsters, it can stunt both physical and mental growth. Among adults it causes a very wide range of ancillary ailments, including cancer. Strontium-90's half-life is around 29 years. It mimics calcium and goes to our bones. 25. According to a recent Planet Infowars report, the California coastline is being transformed into "a dead zone"... The California coastline is becoming like a dead zone. If you haven't been to a California beach lately, you probably don't know that the rocks are unnaturally CLEAN – there's hardly any kelp, barnacles, sea urchins, etc. anymore and the tide pools are similarly eerily devoid of crabs, snails and other scurrying signs of life... and especially as compared to 10 – 15 years ago when one was wise to wear tennis shoes on a trip to the beach in order to avoid cutting one's feet on all the STUFF of life – broken shells, bones, glass, driftwood, etc. There are also days when I am hard-pressed to find even a half dozen seagulls and/or terns on the county beach. You can still find a few gulls trolling the picnic areas and some of the restaurants (with outdoor seating areas) for food, of course, but, when I think back to 10 – 15 years ago, the skies and ALL the beaches were literally filled with seagulls and the haunting sound of their cries both day and night... NOW it's unnaturally quiet. 26. A study conducted last year came to the conclusion that radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster could negatively affect human life along the west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska "for decades". 27. According to the Wall Street Journal, it is being projected that the cleanup of Fukushima could take up to 40 years to complete. 28. Yale Professor Charles Perrow is warning that if the cleanup of Fukushima is not handled with 100% precision that humanity could be threatened "for thousands of years"... Conditions in the unit 4 pool, 100 feet from the ground, are perilous, and if any two of the rods touch it could cause a nuclear reaction that would be uncontrollable. The radiation emitted from all these rods, if they are not continually cool and kept separate, would require the evacuation of surrounding areas including Tokyo. Because of the radiation at the site the 6,375 rods in the common storage pool could not be continuously cooled; they would fission and all of humanity will be threatened, for thousands of years. Are you starting to understand why so many people are so deeply concerned about what is going on at Fukushima? Michael T. Snyder is a graduate of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and has a law degree and an LLM from the University of Florida Law School. He is an attorney who now spends his time researching and writing and trying to wake the American people up. You can follow his work on The Economic Collapse blog, End of the American Dream and Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff. Internal Site Commenting is limited to members. Disqus commenting is available to everyone.

'We are not a nation of beggars': Expert defends PH research on Benham Rise ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 24 2018 08:12 AM | Updated as of Jan 24 2018 11:09 AM

'We are not a nation of beggars': Expert defends PH research on Benham Rise ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 24 2018 08:12 AM | Updated as of Jan 24 2018 11:09 AM Share Save Facebook Twitter GPlus LinkedIn A maritime law expert criticized Wednesday a statement from President Duterte's spokesman that only China can conduct research in Benham Rise because the endeavor is capital intensive. Prof. Jay Batongbacal did not mince words, describing Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's claim as something "based on ignorance" and calling out the Philippine government for making a "brazen falsehood" on the issue. "Government's denigration of Filipino scientists and Filipinos in general, claiming they cannot explore Benham Rise without China or Chinese money, is a total sham meant to disempower and demean Filipinos and their capacity and capability as a people. It makes Filipinos appear helpless, clueless and penniless on something already demonstrated they are not," he wrote on his Facebook page. "We are not a nation of beggars for small change, even if it is from a country as a big and rich as China." The director of UP Institute of Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea took issue with Roque's statement to the press that "Filipinos cannot afford to explore Benham Rise, that "no one can do it", that the Philippines "needs China" to do it, and "only China qualifies." READ: Palace: Chinese help needed in expensive Benham Rise research Refuting Roque's claim, Batongbacal made a list that shows years of research done by Filipino scientists on the resource-rich underwater plateau located east of Isabela. EIGHT REASONS WHY From 2004 to 2008, he said the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources conducted a survey of Benham Rise and produced a highly detailed 3d digital bathymetric model. The survey was done by a full Filipino crew and funded by the Philippine government. Second, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture has been conducting annual fisheries research and experimental fishing expeditions in Benham Rise to determine the tuna fishery potential of its waters. In 2014 and 2016, Batongbacal said two oceanographic research cruises were organized that gave Philippines its initial glimpse of Benham Bank, the shallowest portion of Benham Rise. The research was supported by national government agencies and several academic institutions. READ: Benham's hidden gems: Thriving sea life, potential gas Benham Rise: The Philippines' underwater treasure Scientists find diverse marine life in Benham Rise Fourth, the UP National Institute for Geological Sciences and UP Marine Science Institute have been collaborating with counterpart institutions from Korea and Japan since 2016 to begin initial exploration of the seabed in Benham Rise. Geologists from UP NIGS, he also listed, have produced academic papers and analysis, which were used as evidence to support the claim to Benham Rise. Sixth, marine biologists in the Philippines have been analyzing samples and observations gathered from research cruises. The marine biologists have made interesting findings and potential discoveries, he said. Seventh, a deep-sea research vessel, known as BRP Gregorio Velasquez, was handed over to the Philippine Navy by the US. Lastly, he said Philippines has been offered by "at least one friendly country" with up-to-date technologies, such as underwater autonomous vehicles costing $100,000. NOT THE ONLY ONE Batongbacal acknowledged that China is a "formidable scientific force in the contemporary ocean sciences" but "it is by no means the only one." "China is an obvious opportunity, but not an absolute necessity," he said. READ: China lusting after Benham Rise resources: Golez Batongbacal also said the limitations of Philippine marine science are "not so much a matter of poverty as it is a matter of priorities." "The modest efforts to date demonstrate that with the proper budgetary support from government and clear research goals and objectives, as well as a good vision and great confidence in our own people and expertise, the Philippines can do these things on its own," he said. "We may have relatively few marine scientists and even fewer marine science vessels, but they have done a lot despite limited resources. What more if government actually gave the sector the attention it deserves?" Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare area located east of Luzon island believed to be gas-rich, was awarded to the country in 2012 by the United Nations after Manila successfully proved that it is part of Isabela province's extended continental shelf. Share Save Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: Benham Rise Jay Batongbacal Harry Roque scientific research FROM THE WEB Recommended by Home > News 'China was right': Roque says PH has no sovereignty over Benham Rise Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 22 2018 07:09 PM Share Save Facebook Twitter GPlus LinkedIn MANILA - The Philippines has sovereign rights, but not sovereignty over Benham Rise. This was clarified by Presidential spokesman Harry Roque after a May 2017 statement of the Chinese Foreign Ministry that the Philippine government cannot claim Benham Rise as its own territory was shared many times on social media. PH can't claim Benham Rise as its territory – China Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv The statement had cast doubt on China's plans to conduct explorations in Benham Rise. Duterte renames 'Benham Rise' to 'Philippine Rise' Speaking to reporters, Roque said the Chinese were right. "Tama po iyon. Wala tayong titulo sa Benham Rise. Because what we have is sovereign rights. Sovereign rights is different from title. Sovereign rights is the right to explore and exploit the natural and non-living resources found in the area," Roque said. "We do not have sovereignty in the Benham Rise because what we only have in Benham Rise as part of our extended continental shelf is the right to explore and exploit the natural resources found thereat," he explained. Included in a country's sovereign rights is the right to decide which countries it will allow to conduct scientific research in the area. "Because it is sovereign, because it is exclusive, ibig sabihin noon, desisyon na ng soberenya iyon--soberenyang bansa kung nais niyang i-share sa iba. And we have allowed scientific research on the basis of guidelines that are already existing. And other nations, or other companies from different countries, can also apply," he said. The Philippines' claim to Benham Rise, a massive 13-million-hectare area located east of Luzon island was approved by the United Nations back in 2012. Share Save Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: Benham Rise philippine rise harry roque china benham rise UN convention on the law of the sea UNCLOS Home > News China lusting after Benham Rise resources: Golez Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 23 2018 11:31 AM | Updated as of Jan 23 2018 03:48 PM Share Save Facebook Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv MANILA - A former national security adviser on Tuesday said he is puzzled why the Philippine government would allow China to conduct scientific research off the Pacific coast. The Department of Foreign Affairs granted the request of a Chinese entity to do research in waters where the Benham Rise is located, according to Representative Gary Alejano. It was later disclosed that President Rodrigo Duterte made the call to allow the survey. Roque: Duterte made call on China's Benham Rise research "I’m just a little puzzled why we would allow an entity that already grabbed a big chunk of our exclusive economic zone an entry to Benham Rise," Roilo Golez told ANC's Headstart. Golez noted China may be "lusting" after the natural resources in Benham Rise, which is supposedly rich in fish and methane gas hydrates. "I’m very worried that China may be lusting for the resources available there plus the geostrategic value...The Constitution is very clear that the state must protect our marine wealth in our exclusive economic zone, territorial sea, etc., and reserve its use exclusively for Filipino citizens," he said. Benham Rise, renamed Philippine Rise last year, is an underwater plateau located east of Isabela that is rich in pristine corals, diverse marine life and untapped gas reserves. READ: Benham's hidden gems: Thriving sea life, potential gas The United Nations in 2012 declared it as part of the Philippines' extended continental shelf. Golez said the Philippines' decision to allow China to survey the area gives Beijing an "opening" that could have "strategic implications" in terms of geopolitics. "They want to go into the Western Pacific, which is right now dominated by the US, by Japan...That will enable them to do oceanographic studies to find out what is under the sea," he said. China may also be looking for "thermocline," a thin layer hundreds of meters below the sea "where there's an abrupt change in temperature," allowing submarines to freely operate. Golez also hit Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for saying the China was correct in saying the Philippines has sovereign rights, but not sovereignty over Benham Rise. 'China was right': Roque says PH has no sovereignty over Benham Rise "When you are in dispute with another country, you never agree with that country…Never agree with your opponent because your opponent is going to quote you very liberally and very generously to our detriment," he said. "The best is to emphasize that we have control over Benham Rise. We are the beneficial owner of Benham Rise because everything there, all natural resources are within our control," he added. Share Save Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: ANC ANC Top ANC Exclusives Roilo Golez Benham Rise philippine rise china beijing Home > News Palace: Chinese help needed in expensive Benham Rise research Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 23 2018 03:50 PM Share Save Facebook Twitter GPlus LinkedIn MANILA - Malacañang on Tuesday defended the government’s decision to allow China to explore Benham Rise, saying conducting such research is an expensive endeavor. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier granted the request of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oceanology to do research at the Benham Rise, a resource-rich underwater plateau located east of Isabela. Critics blasted the move, saying it could undermine Manila’s interests in the waters, which the United Nations in 2012 awarded as an extension of the Philippines’ continental shelf. In a news conference, Roque said China was allowed to do the study since it met the qualifications, one of which is that Filipino researchers must be allowed to join Chinese researchers. “Only China has qualified so far. There are other applicants. Unfortunately, they did not qualify according to fixed guidelines already set by the government,” he said. “No one has applied. And no one can do it because, apparently, it’s capital intensive.” Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday questioned why China, which has an ongoing dispute with the Philippines over the South China Sea, was chosen to conduct the research despite its maritime conflict with Manila. “What will the country stand to gain from this marine scientific research? Why do we need to partner with China? Can't the Philippines do it on its own? What is in store for China after the research? How long will this be carried out, and what will be the coverage of the research? What are the mechanisms and guidelines in place in the conduct of the activity?” Pangilinan said in a statement. “Most importantly, what would be the impact of such joint undertaking on the Philippines' national interest and security?” said the senator, who is president of the opposition Liberal Party. Pangilinan said he had to raise these questions because “history and experience tell us that China is not exactly the most trustworthy partner for such an activity.” Meanwhile, former national security adviser Roilo Golez said he was also puzzled why Manila allowed China to conduct the scientific research. Golez noted that China may be "lusting" after the natural resources in Benham Rise, which is supposedly rich in fish and methane gas hydrates. China lusting after Benham Rise resources: Golez "I’m very worried that China may be lusting for the resources available there plus the geostrategic value...The Constitution is very clear that the state must protect our marine wealth in our exclusive economic zone, territorial sea, etc., and reserve its use exclusively for Filipino citizens," Golez told ANC. Golez said the Philippines' decision to allow China to survey the area gives Beijing an "opening" that could have "strategic implications" in terms of geopolitics. "They want to go into the Western Pacific, which is right now dominated by the US, by Japan...That will enable them to do oceanographic studies to find out what is under the sea," he said. China may also be looking for a "thermocline," a transition layer between deep and surface water "where there's an abrupt change in temperature" that could allow submarines to freely operate. Pangilinan called on the administration to be transparent in its dealings with China “to allay fears of the people that it is betraying our national sovereignty and patrimony.” Since assuming power, President Rodrigo Duterte has sought to downplay Manila’s South China Sea dispute with Beijing in pursuit of better economic ties with Asia’s largest economy. Duterte, China's Xi agree not to 'waste lives' over sea dispute Share Save Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: Rodrigo Duterte Benham Rise Department of Foreign Affairs China exploration Francis Pangilinan Home > News Solon: China 'respects' PH sovereignty over Benham Rise in seeking survey permit ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 23 2018 07:38 PM Share Save Facebook Twitter GPlus LinkedIn MANILA - China's application for a permit to survey the Benham Rise shows it respects the Philippines' sovereignty over the resource-rich area, a lawmaker said Tuesday. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the fact that the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oceanology requested for a permit shows that it recognizes Manila's sovereignty over the area. "In this case, Chinese authorities applied for a permit from the Philippine government. The mere fact they applied for permit is recognition over Benham Rise," he said. Lagman however, noted that should China violate the terms of the permit, the Philippines can revoke it. "If there's any violation on the part of China, the permit or permission can be withdrawn as a penalty for violations of the conditions," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier granted the request of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oceanology to do research at the Benham Rise, a resource-rich underwater plateau located east of Isabela. Critics blasted the move, saying it could undermine Manila’s interests in the waters, which the United Nations in 2012 awarded as an extension of the Philippines’ continental shelf. Palace: Chinese help needed in expensive Benham Rise research China lusting after Benham Rise resources: Golez Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano meanwhile questioned Manila's capacity to monitor Beijing's compliance with the requirements of the permit issued. He said Chinese survey ships should be under the close supervision of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. "As long as there is no exploration, no exploitation of marine resources in the EEZ ( exclusive economic zone) of the Philippines or non-living resources and sedentary species in the extended continental shelf, mamo-monitor ba 'yan?" he said. Share Save Facebook Share on Twitter GPlus LinkedIn Read More: Benham Rise China Philippines maritime dispute Edcel Lagman Gary Alejano

Virginia Omoso Guazon 2 hrs · Rappler · 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡 MANILA, Philippines – China's permit to conduct maritime research in the eastern seaboard of the Philippines began on Thursday, January 24, based on a document shown to Rappler. The permit allows China to gather data on the ocean circulation in the Western Pacific Ocean. It expressly bans hydrographic survey or mapping activities within Philippine maritime jurisdictions, drilling in the Philippine continental shelf, and fishing. The permit is good for a total of 33 days or until February 25. It covers the "eastern side of Luzon and Mindanao." Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said it includes Benham Rise. China's 33-day permit to survey PH's eastern seaboard begins The permit allows China to gather data on the ocean circulation in the Western Pacific, covering the 'eastern side of Luzon and Mindanao' RAPPLER.COM

PHILIPPINES China's 33-day permit to survey PH's eastern seaboard begins The permit allows China to gather data on the ocean circulation in the Western Pacific, covering the 'eastern side of Luzon and Mindanao' Carmela Fonbuena @carmelafonbuena Published 10:11 AM, January 24, 2018 Updated 11:01 AM, January 24, 2018 1 1K Twitter Reddit Email 1K CORAL-RICH. Researchers say Benham Bank is rich in corals. Photo courtesy of Dr Hildie Nacorda/UPLB-SESAM CORAL-RICH. Researchers say Benham Bank is rich in corals. Photo courtesy of Dr Hildie Nacorda/UPLB-SESAM MANILA, Philippines – China's permit to conduct maritime research in the eastern seaboard of the Philippines began on Thursday, January 24, based on a document shown to Rappler. The permit allows China to gather data on the ocean circulation in the Western Pacific Ocean. It expressly bans hydrographic survey or mapping activities within Philippine maritime jurisdictions, drilling in the Philippine continental shelf, and fishing. The permit is good for a total of 33 days or until February 25. It covers the "eastern side of Luzon and Mindanao." Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said it includes Benham Rise. The 4-page document was titled "Consent to Conduct Marine Scientific Research (MSR) in Areas Under the National Jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines." DFA granted the permit to the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS), which will conduct the study in tandem with Filipino scientists from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI). The Filipino scientists should be given "unrestricted access" to all areas in the vessel and to equipment. The Philippines also reserves the right to suspend the research project. Chinese ship arrives in PH China will use the survey vessel Ke Xue Hao. The ship – along with the vehicles, platforms, and installations they will use in the study – are suposed to be under the close monitoring and security supervision of the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Coast Guard. The ship must also provide the Philippines regular updates on its position and situation. Ke Xue Hao is already in Philippine waters, according to Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano in a statement Tuesday night, January 23. Government critics slammed the approval of the permit. Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who led the country's international case against China's "squatting" in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), called it "dumb" to allow China to explore the waters on the other side of the country. China reclaimed at least 7 maritime features in the South China Sea, including Mischief Reef inside the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. A test of China's commitment Filipino maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal initially welcomed China acquiescing to partner with Filipino scientists to join its survey. Batongbacal noted that China proceeded to conduct surveys on Benham Rise last year despite denial of its requests. The permit puts China under obligation to follow Philippine laws. Batongbacal said he hopes China will abide by the rules set by the Philippines in the permit and that it will share the results of its study with the Philippines. "They've always been submitting these applications even before 2012. They've always been denied without Filipino partners. We have yet to see if they're going to comply [with the terms of the agreement]," Batongbacal told Rappler. "It's a good way to pressure them. They've been harping on maritime cooperation," he said. China is expected to provide Philippine weather bureau PAGASA, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Coast Guard "real-time" and "unrestricted access to original data" on ocean circulation like sea level pressure, wind direction and speed, rainfall, and air temperature among others. China must also provide the Philippines its preliminary results, its cruise track, names of its crew, and all raw and processed data. Issue of trust But Alejano said China cannot be trusted. "China has been known for saying one thing but does another," Alejano said. Latest pronouncements from Malacañang also made Batongbacal "feeling a little less welcoming" to China's maritime research. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said China was allowed to do the research because it's the only country that can do it. Batongbacal slammed Malacañang's ignorance of what Filipino scientists have achieved. "For government to say that Filipinos need China to explore Benham Rise as if there is no one else that can do it is both a brazen falsehood and a disservice to the hard work and dedication, the talents and capacities, of the Filipino scientific community," he wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday night. Batongbacal said this is not the last time he expects China to seek permission to study the country's eastern seaboard. "It has a big project, up to 2020, to study the entire Western Pacific," he said. – Rappler.com Support Free and Fearless Journalism When Power insists, “you’re either with us or against us,” the space for a diversity of voices and ideas shrinks. When hate and anger are weaponized, it creates a spiral of silence. When critical questions are simplistically equated with an anti-government agenda, it requires courage to hold decision-makers accountable. We launched Rappler in 2012 to marry the highest standards of journalism with technology to strengthen Philippine democracy. We didn’t want to just give you the news; we aimed to promote critical thinking, self-reflection, and empathy to encourage informed decision-making. Help keep us free and independent of political and commercial interests. READ MORE CAMPAIGN RUNNING FOR 4 MONTHS : 8 DAYS : 14 HOURS : 25 MINS P2,218,889 P5,000,000 44% OF GOAL SUPPORT Filed under:Benham RiseChinaGary AlejanoInstitute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of SciencesJay BatongbacalPhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines Marine Science InstituteMarine Scientific Research 1 Show Comment PHILIPPINES Malacañang says Filipinos need China for Benham Rise research Filipinos alone can't conduct research in the resource-rich underwater plateau because they don't have the needed capital, says Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Pia Ranada @piaranada Published 1:16 PM, January 23, 2018 Updated 1:16 PM, January 23, 2018 7 5K Twitter Reddit Email 5K SOVEREIGN RIGHTS. This photo shows Filipinos exploring Benham Rise for the first time in 2014. File photo courtesy of Dr Gil Jacinto/UP-MSI SOVEREIGN RIGHTS. This photo shows Filipinos exploring Benham Rise for the first time in 2014. File photo courtesy of Dr Gil Jacinto/UP-MSI MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos can't conduct research in Benham Rise without China's help. This was how Malacañang defended the approval granted by the Philippine government to China to conduct marine scientific research in the resource-rich continental shelf east of Luzon. (FAST FACTS: What you should know about Benham Rise) Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, on Tuesday, January 23, was asked why it was necessary to approve China's request and why Filipinos could not just conduct research on their own. (READ: PH researchers explore Benham Rise) "No one can do it because, apparently, it's capital intensive," said Roque during a Malacañang press briefing. As to why it was China given permission and not other countries also capable of providing the needed funding, Roque said only China "qualified" for the initiative. (READ: DFA on Benham Rise: 'Same rules for all countries') "Because only China has qualified so far. There are other applications, unfortunately, they did not qualify according to fixed guidelines already set by the government," said Roque. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano previously said Philippine law requires that any scientific study of Benham Rise must ensure that Filipinos are on board the ships used for the study and that the findings must be shared with the Philippine government. Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, who first made public the government's approval of China's research in Benham Rise, alleged that the Department of Foreign Affairs rejected a similar application by a French organization. Alejano also said it was the Chinese Academy of Sciences that was given the approval. The institute is partly funded by the People's Republic of China. Malacañang has emphasized that while the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea gives the Philippines sovereign rights over Benham Rise, the Philippines cannot claim it as part of its national territory. However, sovereign rights means the Philippines alone has the right to explore and exploit the oil, gas and other mineral resources in Benham Rise as part of its extended continental shelf. Benham Rise, which Duterte has renamed Philippine Rise, is a 13-million-hectare underwater plateau thought to be rich in minerals and gas. – Rappler.com Filed under:Chinese Academy of SciencesHarry RoqueMalacañangPhilippine RiseBenham Rise Show 7 Comments PHILIPPINES 'Benham Rise is ours,' Nene Pimentel says after PH allowed China research 'We would like to emphasize Scarborough Shoal is ours, Kalayaan shoals are ours, that Benham Rise is likewise within our exclusive economic zone,' says the former Senate president Camille Elemia @CamilleElemia Published 12:40 PM, January 23, 2018 Updated 2:44 PM, January 23, 2018 7 3K Twitter Reddit Email 3K BENHAM RISE. Former Senate president Aquilino 'Nene' Pimentel Jr says the Philippines has jurisdiction over Benham Rise. File photo by Senate PRIB BENHAM RISE. Former Senate president Aquilino 'Nene' Pimentel Jr says the Philippines has jurisdiction over Benham Rise. File photo by Senate PRIB MANILA, Philippines – Benham Rise is ours. Former Senate president Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr said the Philippines has jurisdiction over Benham Rise and other islands being contested by China, including Scarborough Shoal and the Kalayaan Group of Islands. Pimentel, founder of President Rodrigo Duterte's party PDP-Laban, was speaking at the second Senate hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on Tuesday, January 23. "Even as discussion in this particular forum is focused on BBL, our people should not forget that if we talk about BBL, that applies to the Republic of the Philippines. We are not only talking about Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, we would like to emphasize Scarborough Shoal is ours, Kalayaan shoals are ours, that Benham Rise is likewise within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as defined by the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," Pimentel said during the hearing. The former Senate president's statement came after the Duterte administration allowed China to conduct maritime research in Benham Rise. It was Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, an opposition lawmaker, who first revealed the information. Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano later confirmed it. (READ: Lorenzana: China showed interest in PH's Benham Rise) Benham Rise is a 13-million-hectare underwater plateau off the coast of Aurora, which the Philippines fought for and won before the United Nations in 2012. (FAST FACTS: What you should know about Benham Rise) In May last year, China said the Philippines could not claim Benham Rise as its own territory. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque agreed with the statement and said on Monday, January 22, that the Philippines has "sovereign rights" and not "sovereignty" over the area. "We do not have sovereignty in the Benham Rise because what we only have in Benham Rise as part of our extended continental shelf is the right to explore and exploit the natural resources found thereat," Roque said. In recent years, China has aggressively developed maritime features in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Duterte, during the presidential campaign, vowed to defend the Philippines' maritime territory. But ties between Manila and Beijing have warmed since Duterte assumed office and he has since softened his stance on the dispute. (READ: 5 ways Duterte can defend Scarborough without going to war) – Rappler.com Filed under:Aquilino Pimentel JrBenham RiseChinaHarry RoquePhilippinesScarborough ShoalSenateSouth China SeaWest Philippine SeaNene Pimentel Show 7 Comments https://www.rappler.com/nation/194314-nene-pimentel-benham-rise-philippines-china-research

The company notorious for sending out hordes of ‘internet warriors’ to defend the company and its actions online in comments and message boards

Nestle CEO: Corporations Come Before Humanity 138,806 views 119 319 SHARE SageOfQuay Published on May 14, 2013 SUBSCRIBE 2.2K Subscribe Subscribed Unsubscribe This is a stunning (and I mean stunning) interview. This is for anyone who is still walking around in an unawakened stupor... in this interview - water is not a human right... these are the people running the world folks... it's time to pop your head out of your butt and wake up... http://sageofquay.blogspot.com/ Category News & Politics License Standard YouTube License SHOW LESS Comments are disabled for this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=vWkA-uAPXCE January 21, 2018 ardit Mind blowing Nestle CEO says “WATER IS NOT A HUMAN RIGHT” Is water a free and basic human right, or should all the water on the planet belong to major corporations and be treated as a product? Should the poor who cannot afford to pay these said corporations suffer from starvation due to their lack of financial wealth? According to the former CEO and now Chairman of the largest food product manufacturer in the world, corporations should own every drop of water on the planet — and you’re not getting any unless you pay up. The company notorious for sending out hordes of ‘internet warriors’ to defend the company and its actions online in comments and message boards (perhaps we’ll find some below) even takes a firm stance behind Monsanto’s GMOs and their ‘proven safety’. In fact, the former Nestle CEO actually says that his idea of water privatization is very similar to Monsanto’s GMOs. In a video interview, Nestle Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe states that there has never been ‘one illness’ ever caused from the consumption of GMOs. Watch the video below for yourself: The way in which this sociopath clearly has zero regard for the human race outside of his own wealth and the development of Nestle, who has been caught funding attacks against GMO labeling, can be witnessed when watching and listening to his talk on the issue. This is a company that actually goes into struggling rural areas and extracts the groundwater for their bottled water products, completely destroying the water supply of the area without any compensation. In fact, they actually make rural areas in the United States foot the bill. As reported on by Corporate Watch, Nestle and former CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe have a long history of disregarding public health and abusing the environment to take part in the profit of an astounding $35 billion in annual profit from water bottle sales alone. The report states: So is water a human right, or should it be owned by big corporations? Well, if water is not here for all of us, then perhaps air should be owned by major corporations as well. And as for crops, Monsanto is already working hard to make sure their monopoly on our staple crops and beyond is well situated. It should really come as no surprise that this Nestle Chairman fights to keep Monsanto’s GMOs alive and well in the food supply, as his ideology lines right up with that of Monsanto. Share this:

Matthew 24 is the twenty-fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the Olivet Discourse spoken by Jesus Christ and his prediction of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Wikipedia

Matthew 24 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Matthew 24 ← chapter 23chapter 25 → Papyrus 1 - recto.jpg Matthew 1:1-9,12 on the recto side of Papyrus 1, written about AD 250. Book Gospel of Matthew Bible part New Testament Order in the Bible part 1 Category Gospel Gospel of Matthew Chapters [show] Matthew 24 is the twenty-fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the Olivet Discourse spoken by Jesus Christ and his prediction of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.[1] The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Matthew the Apostle composed this Gospel.[2] Contents [hide] 1 Text 2 Structure 3 Cross references 4 Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple 5 Mount of Olives 6 Verse 15 7 Verse 35 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Text[edit] The original text is written in Koine Greek or Hebrew/Aramaic[citation needed]. Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are: Codex Vaticanus (AD 325-350) Codex Sinaiticus (330-360) Codex Bezae (c. 400) Codex Washingtonianus (c. 400) Codex Alexandrinus (c. 400-440) Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450) Codex Purpureus Rossanensis (6th century) Codex Sinopensis (6th century; extant: verses 3-12) Papyrus 83 (6th century; extant: verses 1, 6) This chapter is divided into 51 verses. Structure[edit] This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible): Matthew 24:1-2 = Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple (Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6) Matthew 24:3-14 = The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age (Mark 13:3-13; Luke 21:7-19) Matthew 24:15-28 = The Great Tribulation (Mark 13:14-23; Luke 21:20-24) Matthew 24:36-31 = The Coming of the Son of Man (Mark 13:24-27,32; Luke 21:25-28) Matthew 24:32-43 = The Parable of the Fig Tree (Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33) Matthew 24:37-44 = No One Knows the Day or Hour (Luke 17:26-30,34-36) Matthew 24:45-51 = The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant (Luke 12:41-48) Cross references[edit] Matthew 24:15: Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11 Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple[edit] In the preceding chapters, Jesus has been teaching in the Temple and debating with the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees. Jesus and his disciples leave the Temple (Matthew 24:1), or the temple grounds in the New Living Translation,[3] never to return.[4] Jesus predicts that "not one stone shall be left here upon another". The prediction follows the sentiments expressed by Jesus in Matthew 23:37-38: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ... See! Your house is left to you desolate. Methodist founder John Wesley says that the prediction was "most punctually fulfilled", in that the majority of the temple buildings were burned and then dug up on the orders of the invading Roman general Titus in 70 AD.[5] Mount of Olives[edit] Jesus and his disciples proceed to the Mount of Olives, where a "private" conversation takes place regarding "the end of the age". Jesus' words here are referred to at the "Little Apocalypse" or "Olivet Discourse". Jesus appears to have led ahead of his disciples (Matthew 24:3), who come to him to enquire about the timing and signification of his parousia (Greek: παρουσιας). Mark 13:30 states that only Peter, James, John and Andrew came to speak with him. Verse 15[edit] New King James Version Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)[6] Citation from Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11 Verse 35[edit] King James Version Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.[7] Jesus' words refer to an Old Testament saying recorded in Isaiah 51:6. See also[edit] Abomination of desolation Noah Noah's Ark Noah's Flood Olivet Discourse Other related Bible parts: Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Isaiah 51, Jeremiah 15, Daniel 11, Daniel 12, Matthew 25, Mark 13, Luke 12, Luke 17, Luke 21, 2 Peter 3 References[edit] Jump up ^ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an Abbreviated Bible Commentary. 23rd edition, Zondervan Publishing House. 1962. Jump up ^ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012. Jump up ^ New Living Translation Jump up ^ Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible on Matthew 24, accessed 19 February 2017 Jump up ^ Wesley's Notes on the Bible on Matthew 24, accessed 19 February 2017 Jump up ^ Matthew 24:15 Jump up ^ Matthew 24:35 External links[edit] Matthew 24 NIV

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Organic Farms and “Eco-Parks” are Ruining Baguio’s Mountainsides

Organic Farms and “Eco-Parks” are Ruining Baguio’s Mountainsides Tweet Share 345 +1 For the nth time, numerous so-called “environmental activists” have come under the case of the vapors against tree cutting around Baguio. Once again, I’m inclined to reiterate on how gullible and how off-the-point the people of Baguio are, especially those who claim to be “for the environment.” Mt. Sto. Tomas, locally known as Cabuyao, is a reservation just outside City limits, harboring a large tree reserve, a watershed and a former US AA radar station that gives the peak its unique look. stotomasradar_zps682abe3a Just recently 300 or so pine trees were cut down in Sto. Tomas to widen a road that goes to, of all places, a resort that doubles as an “eco-park.” Apparently the cutting, which was conducted near a vital water source, was done by the brother of current Baguio Congressman Nicasio Aliping Jr.; the latter may be ordered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to pay PhP50,000, or roughly PhP800 for each pine tree. Time and again, Get Real Philippines has shown that the people of Baguio don’t get the whole picture of why their City has, for a lack of a better term, gone to crap. First, and most importantly, the majority of voters in Baguio used their democratic rights to put the people responsible for these cuttings in the positions they’re in today, in peaceful local elections I might add. Now before any “y-Baguio” reading this essay brings out the true-yet-tired excuse that “our democratic system is corrupt,” they shouldn’t forget that they chose to participate in that system and allow these politicians to claim these seats of office. In short, don’t blame them for doing it, blame yourselves for electing them in the first place. To say that “oh I didn’t vote for them” is petty and childish, akin to saying “he started it” after a brawl. It only shows how little Baguio people regard the democratic process they claim to exalt. It would perhaps be better for Baguio to elect someone who does NOT run on a platform of “environmental awareness,” because that person would be honest about his intentions. Years of electing people who supposedly “care for Baguio’s future” have turned the City into a microcosm of what’s wrong with the Philippines when it comes to its natural resources. The fact that Baguio’s national representative (and center of all this current mess) is now the chair of the local chapter of the Liberal Party is a minor digression, but supports the microcosmic view. Additionally, the cutting of trees in Sto. Tomas overlooks the problem of people turning its slopes into organic vegetable farms such as this one: baguio_5 Given the increasing popularity of “organic” produce these days, more land would be used for growing such crops; a higher demand would then force farmers to clear larger tracts of land for cultivation. Trees then would then be inevitably felled for these farms, and the cycle continues ad nauseam. Sadly, “environmental activists” in Baguio also prefer to promote the “benefits” of these organic crops (as shown in pseudo-environmental group Save 182’s “Boycott SM” Facebook page) while completely ignoring the fact that organic crops deal a lot more damage to the environment than genetically modified (GMO) crops. What these “environmentalists” can’t (or won’t) tell you is that GMO crops take less time to grow and less land to use. The yield can be as much as twice that of an organic crop, taking up less space for agriculture, thus giving potential space for trees to grow. The anti-science provocateurs, however, would rather ignore this and destroy these crops due to unsubstantiated claims of “potential harmful effects.” As it turns out, the same people who believe that GMO’s are “evil” often are the same people who think that “vaccines cause autism.” It could therefore be obliquely stated that a conscious and deliberate distortion of scientific facts is causing the destruction of tree reserves on the slopes of Mt. Sto. Tomas. The graver irony here is the fact that these trees were cut to give way to an “eco-park.” There are quite a growing number of these in Baguio, and I believe that the proliferation of such, despite their innate intentions of “ecological preservation,” actually contributes to the City’s ecological decline. The primary reason for this is the fact that in order for people to get to these places, the infrastructure has to be present. It’s outright hypocrisy when people put up an “eco-park,” then roads have to be constructed and parking lots have to be paved for visitors’ vehicles. And what point is there in trying to look for the quiet sanctity of nature within these “eco-parks” when services within them include animatronic dinosaurs? The purpose of environmental preservation is thus defeated when such a place is turned into a theme park. If they’re really serious about putting up these ecological reserves, the best way to do it is to put up a nature preserve and KEEP IT OFF LIMITS TO HUMANS. If the government can successfully keep throngs of die-hard spiritual devotees off the slopes of Mt. Banahaw for years at a time (thus ensuring the return of that place’s wilderness areas), the local governments of Baguio and Benguet can certainly keep casual weekenders from climbing the supposedly protected forests of Mt. Sto. Tomas. That is, of course, if the people of Baguio and Benguet don’t fall into the same trap they keep getting into every three years by electing the same type of laughable “pro-environment” candidates over and over again. More than a year ago, Get Real Philippines writer Paul Farol wrote an essay entitled “Why Baguio is Dying.” I would like to disagree with what he said: Baguio is dead; it got buried under the rubble of the Earthquake of 1990. Just as science has recently proven that it’s now too late to turn back when it comes to climate change, I believe that nothing short of plague or geological cataclysm can reverse what Baguio has evolved into. I’ll close this essay with a comment about Baguio written by Lisa on 3 November 2012, in response to another article by Paul Farol: “There are no genuine environmental groups here to speak of, the people would rather do battle with a corporation and other co-residents than take on a corrupt government that is party to the degradation. This is why the city looks and behaves as it does now.” [Sto. Tomas radar doshes photo courtesy of Pinoy Mountaineer. Vegetable terrace photo courtesy of Weekend Trip Baguio.] print About MidwayHaven But enough about me. Voting For President Is Pointless If You Forget the Legislative Branch - April 28, 2016 Philippine Elections: Feudal “Democracy” At Its Most Spectacular - April 9, 2016 Filipino Spirituality Needs To Evolve - January 10, 2016 Five Dangerous HIV/AIDS Myths That Many Filipinos Still Believe - January 8, 2016 Which 2016 Candidate Will Repeal the Lina Law on Informal Settlers? - December 10, 2015 Spread it! More Related Why Can't SM Baguio Bashers See The Bigger Environmental Sin Why Can't SM Baguio Bashers See The Bigger Environmental Sin January 21, 2015 In "Development" ABS-CBN's Forevermore Teleserye Contributes to Benguet Watershed Destruction ABS-CBN's Forevermore Teleserye Contributes to Benguet Watershed Destruction January 27, 2015 In "Culture" Baguio City: Ruined by 'Pinoy' Mentality Baguio City: Ruined by 'Pinoy' Mentality January 13, 2012 In "Civics" Categories: Culture, Environment, Government, Politics / 14 Responses / by MidwayHaven Leave a Reply 14 Comments on "Organic Farms and “Eco-Parks” are Ruining Baguio’s Mountainsides" Notify of Email › avatar Join the discussion Sort by: newest | oldest | most voted vangie Guest vangie all know but no one seems to underscore the fact that the same people have been in city hall for 20 years plus…they just play the game of merry go round….they have been in office longer than the deposed dictator! 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago MidwayHaven Guest MidwayHaven The sad part is that the people of Baguio VOTE to keep them there. CONSCIOUSLY and VOLUNTARILY. And those that they claim to be “alternatives” to the incumbents are more or less in the same political basket. In Baguio, it always has been a choice between the corrupt or the incompetent (which somehow is just like Philippine national politics), and the Baguio electoral race in 2016 is gearing up to look like the same damn thing. 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago Anonymou5 Guest Anonymou5 Interesting article, though we should all be aware that most of the voters in Baguio are not actually from Baguio. Even the said elected officials. Sad reality right there. 0 REPLY2 years 11 months ago MidwayHaven Guest MidwayHaven Are we sure that the voters are not from Baguio? Where are the statistics that prove this claim? Until there’s concrete evidence for such, then it would be best to put forward the assumption that Baguio’s ills are created by the people of Baguio themselves. 0 REPLY2 years 11 months ago Toro Hyden2 Guest Toro Hyden2 It is unfortunate that such a brother of a politician is the one denuding the forest of Baguio…soon more lanslides will occur in the place. Organic Farming is just a fad. Farming without the use of commercial fertilizer is organic fartming. Commercial fertilizer is the same as the natural fertilizer, because the chemical elements in it, like Nitrogen, etc…are of the same atomic structure. The behaviour of that person that is denuding the Pine forest of Baguio is just plain greed. Yet, the people of Baguio do not even raise a voice of complain…it is apathy and passivity on the… Read more » 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago Krauss Guest Krauss It’s insulting really… The brightest minds of our country are doing everything they can on improving food production, yet here these boneheads are furthering their dubious agenda with unsubstantiated claims. The scientific process is something that could not be respected in this anti-intellectual society that we painfully still have now. I’ll be an Agriculture student soon, so I should be offended by this. 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago Krauss Guest Krauss In the world of Agribusiness, the farmers gets just one-third of the profits they get from their yield. The rest of the money goes to bodies in charge of transportation, processing, packaging, refrigerating, marketing and etcetera. What we’ve seen in the last sixty years is that chemically-modified pesticides, fertilizers, and, of course, seeds have been thrown into that mix; if there are any real evils to these, it is that these are prone to corruption and if there is any then it’s the people fault for putting in place the bodies responsible anyway. Blame those who use them, not the… Read more » 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago Toro Hyden Guest Toro Hyden Food production is not denuding the forest. California, U.S.A. is where most of the vegetables and fruits are grown, in the U.S.. They did not denude their forests to grow these plants. Same as Mexico. They have vegetable growing provinces also. Mexico did not denude its forest to grow their crops. These crops are not even grown in terraced mountains. They are grown in plains. Other South American countries also do the same. They grow crops and export it to other countries. It is in the process of growing, that the Philippines cannot grow and sustain the needs of its… Read more » 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago thom Hardy Guest thom Hardy All of the elections in the country are potentially rigged, if the wrong person is going to win…the rigging occurs. It is a no win situation for the people. To say that in an ‘oblique way’ that ‘deliberate distortions’ of ‘scientific facts’ is responsible for the destruction of the trees involved is just completely laughable. It appears that yet another elected official has given a government contract to a family member and that family memeber has taken it upon himself to cut down the fuckin trees for a huge profit. It is that simple.No need to complicate it. To say… Read more » 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago MidwayHaven Guest MidwayHaven What you wrote is basically the same trap others fell in: that only the government is to blame. Sure, we have that situation where an elected official squandered his position in relation to the environment, but again, the emphasis is on the PEOPLE who do the same thing, regardless of whoever is in power. And by “annihilation of the established order,” you pretty much seem to be in favor of anarchy and a breakdown not just of a rotten system but also of systems which have been proven useful. Your semantics are eerily similar to what “The Zeitgeist Movement” would say. 0 REPLY3 years 7 months ago Marius Guest Marius It never ceases to amaze me that people who know nothing about farming seem to feel qualified to hold forth on the subject. First off, there is no such thing as “organic” farming. The word is a catch-all for a huge range of techniques, some of which are sensible, and some of which as stupid. Modern chemical-free farming systems that use polycultures, animals and trees integrated into the system produce 2-5 times more profit than chemical-fed GMO monocultures, while continually improving the soil. The terraces in the pictures are the WRONG way of doing it: this is basically just traditional… Read more » 0 REPLY3 years 6 months ago MidwayHaven Guest MidwayHaven First of all, your claim that GMO’s are sterile has been debunked: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/10/18/163034053/top-five-myths-of-genetically-modified-seeds-busted Secondly, farmers who use GMO’s are not “beholden” to seed suppliers; that’s been debunked as well: http://debunkingdenialism.com/2013/07/04/unraveling-five-popular-anti-gmo-claims/ Third, large-scale “natural” farming in the Cordilleras, especially in the Benguet region, cannot be done with the methods you most likely know due to a forced system of pesticides and greenhouse farming (which invariably consumes more electrical energy): http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2009/412054/ 0 REPLY3 years 6 months ago marius Guest marius Nobody is forcing farmers to use pesticides. They use them because they’re idiots, and because the people advising them are idiots. This doesn’t change the fact that better methods are possible. 0 REPLY3 years 6 months ago trackback ABS-CBN’s Forevermore Teleserye Contributes to Benguet Watershed Destruction | igorotplus […] decimated hundreds of trees to develop their “property” in the said forest reserve. The article “Organic Farms and “Eco-Parks” are Ruining Baguio’s Mountainsides” paints a grim picture of our northern uplands and exposes the culprits behind the loss of hundreds […] 0 REPLY2 years 11 months ago

Oliver Omo Siega Yesterday · Edited · Mayon Volcano As of 10:00 p.m January 15, 2018 View from Tagas, Daraga, Albay Video & Photo By: Vienmae Pasibe #mayonvolcano #lavaflow #newbiehere #noedits #peaceout #staysafeAlbay

Mayon Volcano As of 10:00 p.m January 15, 2018 View from Tagas, Daraga, Albay Video & Photo By: Vienmae Pasibe #mayonvolcano #lavaflow #newbiehere #noedits #peaceout #staysafeAlbay

Virginia Omoso Guazon shared a link. 2 hrs · Duterte’s federalism a ‘political swindle’, term extension move – Reds DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The administration's impending move to junk the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for a federal… DAVAOTODAY.COM

Duterte’s federalism a ‘political swindle’, term extension move – Reds Jan. 13, 2018 MARA GENOTIVA DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The administration’s impending move to junk the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for a federal form of government is a “political swindle” for a “fascist dictatorship”, said Communist Party of the Philippines founder Prof. Jose Maria Sison. Sison said that President Rodrigo Duterte with the help of his allies in the Lower House and the Senate will railroad the junking of the 1987 Constitution to mask a “one-man rule” where “the powers of government are overconcentrated in the hands of Duterte on top of regional governments run by big compradors, landlords, corrupt bureaucrats and warlords like him.” The president’s former professor also said that “Duterte and his cohorts are engaged in political swindling when they say that federalism is the cure to all the big problems of the Philippines.” He maintained that whatever is the form of government, “the rottenness of the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system under US imperialism and the local exploiting classes will persist.” Sison also warned that the shift to federalism will intensify the plunder of human and natural resources of the country, “the new pseudo-federal constitution will get rid of the nationality requirements or restrictions on foreign investments in violation of economic sovereignty and national patrimony by simply inserting the phrase, “unless otherwise provided by law.” Meanwhile, Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson of the Melito Glor Command-New People’s Army, said that charter change for federalism is a maneuver for Duterte to extend his term. “Nais ni Duterte na maghari lagpas sa kanyang termino kaya minamadali nito ang transisyon tungo sa pederal na gubyerno. Makakapanatili siya bilang pinakamataas na upisyal ng gubyerno habang nasa transisyong yugto ang pederal na sistema ng gubyerno (Duterte wants to rule beyond his term that is why he fast-tracts the transition to federal government. He will remain the head of state during the transition stage of government),” Padilla said in a statement sent to media on Friday. Padilla added that during the transitional period, Duterte and his allies can do anything to further extend his term as the head of state. “Sa panahong hindi pa umiiral ang bagong sistema, magagawa ni Duterte na maglabas ng kung anu-anong dekretong pabor sa kanyang paghahari, sa mga kroni niya at ng among imperyalista (As the new system, is yet to take effect, Duterte can issue whatever decree to favor his rein, his cronies and his imperialist master)” Padilla added. The CPP in its 49th founding anniversary statement, vows to “overthrow” Duterte as it gears towards its 50th year in 2018. “The Filipino people are suffering gravely under the Duterte regime’s fascist tyranny, all-out economic liberalization and bureaucratic corruption. The entire Party and all revolutionary forces must exert vigorous efforts to unite the Filipino people in a broad united front to resist and overthrow the fascist Duterte regime as they did the Marcos dictatorship and the Estrada regime,” said the CPP. (davaotoday.com) Facebook227TwitterGoogleMore