Crisis in Haiti

“The Haitian people cannot be forgotten.”

The UN human rights chief sounded the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Haiti, calling it a “catastrophe” fuelled by gang violence, widespread impunity and a political process that is hanging by a thread.

Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that the country had reached “yet another crisis point,” with heavily armed gangs expanding their control, public institutions in ruins and a humanitarian emergency deepening by the day.

“I am not sure the usual description of gang violence captures the amount of unbearable suffering that has been inflicted on the Haitian people,” Mr. Türk said.

Between July 2024 and February 2025, 4,239 people were killed and 1,356 injured, with 92 per cent of casualties attributed to gun violence.

Gangs, armed with increasingly sophisticated weapons mostly trafficked from abroad, are killing civilians, destroying schools and healthcare facilities, and using sexual violence and mass kidnappings to terrorise communities.

Destruction as governance

The rights chief warned that gangs are no longer just operating in pockets of Port-au-Prince – they are implementing their own rule across wider parts of the capital and beyond.

The Viv Ansanm gang coalition and others have launched coordinated attacks, often outnumbering police, and have destroyed or taken over schools, orphanages, courts, media outlets and hospitals.

In one December incident alone, at least 207 people were killed over five days in Cité Soleil.

Sexual violence is being used deliberately to assert control, Mr. Türk said, citing gang rapes in public spaces and even the execution of victims after assault.

The forced recruitment and trafficking of children is also on the rise.

Meanwhile, more than 700 kidnappings were documented during the reporting period.  “Those who attempted to resist abduction were often shot dead,” Mr. Türk said.

Police violence and impunity

Despite efforts by the Haitian National Police and the Security Council-mandated Multinational Security Support Mission, the State is losing ground.

Law enforcement operations against gangs have resulted in over 2,000 people killed or injured – a 60 per cent increase – with nearly a third of those victims not involved in any violence.

OHCHR documented at least 219 extrajudicial executions by specialised police units during the reporting period, up from just 33 the year before.

There has also been a rise in mob lynchings and self-defence groups, sometimes with police complicity.

Mr. Türk stressed the urgent need to accelerate the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission and ensure full human rights compliance mechanisms are in place.

Hunger, displacement, despair

The human toll of the violence is staggering.  More than one million people are now displaced, 40,000 in recent weeks alone.

Half of all Haitians – 5.5 million people – face acute food insecurity and two million have been reduced to emergency hunger levels.

Nearly 6,000 people are living in famine-like conditions, while 500,000 children are displaced -  a quarter suffering stunted growth due to malnutrition.

Only half of health facilities in the capital are fully operational, and 31 per cent have shut down due to insecurity.

“The impact on children is particularly devastating,” said Mr. Türk. “[This] will impact them for life.”

Justice, not just security

The High Commissioner welcomed Haiti’s recent decision to establish two specialised judicial units to tackle human rights violations and financial crimes but said much more must be done.

“The most crucial first step here is to stop the illicit flow of arms into the country,” he said, stressing the need to fully implement the Security Council’s arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes.

Mr. Türk emphasised that “there is a way out”, but only with political will, international support and urgent action to end the cycle of corruption, impunity and senseless violence.

“I call on each and every one of you, including the media, to put the spotlight on this crisis,” he said.  “The Haitian people cannot be forgotten.”

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Inclusive Education in Latin America and the Caribbean Now!

Despite strong commitments to inclusive education across Latin America and the Caribbean, the reality on the ground is uneven, with many students with disabilities still placed in segregated schools or special classes...

Bridging the Gap: Inclusive Education in Latin America and the Caribbean

by Claudia Martinez A. - Suzanne Duryea - Maria Antonella Pereira

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 10-15% of school-aged children live with disabilities or learning difficulties, making inclusive education both a moral responsibility and an economic imperative.  With 12.5-18.9 million children at risk of being left behind, inclusive education— in which children with and without disabilities learn together—offers a crucial path to ensuring equal opportunities.

Despite strong commitments to inclusive education across Latin America and the Caribbean, however, the reality on the ground is uneven, with many students with disabilities still placed in segregated schools or special classes.

Legal Frameworks and Policy Commitments—Building the Foundation

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have established a foundation for inclusive education through strong legal frameworks.  All nations in the region have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ensuring that children with disabilities have the right to education within the general education system.  National laws further reinforce this commitment, with most countries mandating reasonable accommodations in schools to support the inclusion and learning of students with disabilities.

However, the implementation of these policies varies widely across the region.  While countries like Chile and Brazil have developed comprehensive programs that facilitate the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream schools, others continue to rely on segregated schooling models.  This gap between policy and practice underscores the need for ongoing advocacy and support to ensure that all children can interact and learn side by side.

The Enrollment-Completion Disconnect—A Persistent Challenge

One of the most significant challenges is the disconnect between enrollment and completion rates for children with disabilities.  While enrollment rates for children with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean are not particularly low, these students must still finish their education.  Most children with disabilities attend primary and secondary school, but gaps widen with age, particularly with regards to completion.

Evidence suggests that inclusive education policies play a role in reducing these disparities.  In countries like Chile and Brazil, where most students with disabilities attend mainstream schools, enrollment gaps at the primary and secondary level are minimal, at under 3 percentage points, and more than 68 percent of students with disabilities complete those levels of education.

In contrast, countries with lower levels of inclusion, such as Bolivia and Peru, still show substantial completion gaps, with secondary school completion rates for students with disabilities lagging behind those of their peers by as much as 48 percentage points.   This might be related in part to the low rates of disability measured in surveys in these countries.

In contrast to other countries in the region, the surveys may only be only capturing people with disabilities with high support needs.

These people are thus also more likely to experience discrimination or lag behind.  The large gaps in Peru and Bolivia may thus not actually be as large as they seem to be.  Still, the fact that gaps in completion rates vary significantly across countries and appear to be smaller in those that have expanded access to inclusive education bolsters the case for boosting inclusive education regionwide.

Learning from Leaders—Chile and Brazil’s Inclusive Education Models

Chile and Brazil have emerged as leaders in the region in this regard, pioneering innovative approaches to inclusive education.  Chile’s Education Integration Program (PIE) offers additional funding to schools that enroll students with disabilities, promoting inclusion within mainstream schooling.  Similarly, Brazil’s Specialized Educational Support Program (AEE) provides additional resources and learning support within mainstream schools, substantially reducing segregation.

These programs have yielded positive results, and there have been substantial increases in the number of students with disabilities attending mainstream schools.  In Brazil, students with disabilities in mainstream schools increased by 69.5% between 2014 and 2021, while in Chile their numbers rose by 36.5% during the same period.

Taking inspiration from the successful implementation of those endeavors and adapting Chile and Brazil’s models to their own contexts, other countries might similarly prioritize resources for inclusive education, including investments in teacher training, assistive technologies, and infrastructure improvements to make schools accessible to all students.  As in Chile, other countries may also consider providing financial resources for schools that are implementing inclusive education programs and monitoring outcomes.

Countries might develop more robust systems that identify students with disabilities and learning difficulties.  They might develop learning plans based on individual assessments and monitor progress toward these goals.  The key is creating sustainable and scalable programs that ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.  Inclusive education is an essential goal.  It is a pathway to a more equitable and prosperous future for Latin America and the Caribbean in which all children are given the opportunity to succeed.

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What are the Minsk Agreements?

To understand the significance of the Minsk Agreements, one must first examine the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis

The Minsk Agreements were supposed to bring peace, but they were ultimately a deception used by the West and Kyiv to stall for time while preparing for a bigger war

By James William Kaler

The Minsk Agreements were a series of international accords aimed at de-escalating the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which erupted in 2014 following the Western-backed overthrow of Ukraine’s elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, and the subsequent declaration of independence by pro-Russian separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk.  These agreements were meant to establish a ceasefire and provide a diplomatic framework for resolving the conflict between the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).

To understand the significance of the Minsk Agreements, one must first examine the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis, the origins of the conflict, and the dynamics between Western Ukraine (which largely aligned with the EU, NATO, and the post-2014 Ukrainian government) and Eastern Ukraine (which had historical, linguistic, and economic ties to Russia).

Background: The 2014 Crisis and the Division of Ukraine

In 2013, Ukraine was on the verge of signing an Association Agreement with the European Union.  However, at the last minute, President Viktor Yanukovych decided to halt the agreement in favor of closer ties with Russia.

This decision triggered the Maidan protests in Kyiv, led by pro-Western and nationalist factions, which escalated into violent clashes.

In February 2014, Yanukovych was forcibly removed from power in what Russia and many Ukrainians in the east considered a Western-backed coup.

In response, pro-Russian populations in Crimea and Donbas rejected the new government in Kyiv.

Crimea held a referendum and was annexed by Russia, while in Donetsk and Luhansk, pro-Russian militias declared independence.

This led to civil war in eastern Ukraine, as Kyiv launched “Anti-Terrorist Operations” (ATO) against the separatists, leading to intense battles.

The Minsk Agreements: Ceasefires and Deception

With the war escalating and thousands of civilians killed, Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine brokered a diplomatic solution:

Minsk I (September 2014)

A ceasefire was agreed upon but quickly collapsed, as fighting continued, particularly around Donetsk airport and Debaltseve.

Kyiv failed to fulfill its part of the agreement, which included granting Donbas autonomy.

The West continued to support Ukraine militarily and economically, while Russia unofficially backed the separatists.

Minsk II (February 2015)

A new agreement was reached after Ukraine suffered major defeats at Debaltseve.

This agreement called for:

- Immediate ceasefire.

- Withdrawal of heavy weapons.

- Autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk.

- Constitutional reforms in Ukraine to grant decentralization.

- Restoration of Ukrainian control over the border with Russia (after autonomy was implemented).

Despite being signed, Kyiv refused to implement autonomy, and Western governments later admitted they never intended to enforce it, using it instead as a delaying tactic to arm Ukraine further.

What Happened in Eastern Ukraine (2014-2019)?

Instead of resolving the conflict, the Kyiv government and its Western backers took an increasingly hardline stance against Donbas, leading to continued war, civilian casualties, and economic destruction in the east.

1. Military Escalation and the Blockade

Kyiv cut off pensions and banking services to Donbas residents.

In 2017, Ukraine imposed an economic blockade, severing trade between Donbas and the rest of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military and ultra-nationalist volunteer battalions such as Azov, Aidar, and Right Sector carried out indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas in Donetsk and Luhansk.

By 2019, over 13,000 people had been killed, including thousands of civilians.

2. Violation of the Minsk Agreements

Ukraine’s government, under Petro Poroshenko, refused to grant Donbas special status, openly admitting that Minsk was a tactic to “buy time” to strengthen Ukraine’s military.

France and Germany, while mediators of Minsk, did not pressure Ukraine to fulfill its obligations.

The U.S. and NATO continued to supply Ukraine with weapons, escalating the conflict.

3. Rising Nationalism and Repression in Western Ukraine

The Kyiv government passed language laws aimed at suppressing Russian speakers (30-40% of the country).

Ukrainian nationalists glorified Nazi collaborators such as Stepan Bandera, alienating Russian-speaking Ukrainians.

Ukrainian security services cracked down on opposition voices, labeling pro-peace activists as “Russian agents.”

Conclusion: The Path to a Greater War

By 2019, the situation in Ukraine was not improving—it was worsening.  The failure of the Minsk Agreements, combined with continued Western interference and Ukrainian military build-up, set the stage for a larger conflict.

Eastern Ukraine was left devastated by war, economically cut off, and heavily reliant on Russia.

Ukraine became more militarized and radicalized, with NATO increasing its involvement.

Russia viewed Kyiv’s refusal to implement Minsk and NATO’s growing presence as a red line.

By 2022, the conflict that had festered since 2014 would explode into full-scale war, as Russia launched its military operation, claiming it was defending Donbas from an imminent Ukrainian offensive.

Final Thoughts

The Minsk Agreements were supposed to bring peace, but they were ultimately a deception used by the West and Kyiv to stall for time while preparing for a bigger war.  East Ukraine was systematically attacked, deprived, and alienated by Kyiv, which refused to recognize the will of its people.  Instead of reconciliation, Ukraine was pushed toward further division—and the consequences of this betrayal are still unfolding today.

Here is an image reflecting the war-torn landscape of Eastern Ukraine, depicting the division and human toll of the conflict.

...

The mainstream narrative that "Russia unprovokedly invaded Ukraine in 2022" ignores nearly eight years of war and suffering that took place in Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) at the hands of Kyiv.  Many who hold this surface-level belief either:

Were unaware (due to media suppression) of what was happening to civilians in the Donbas region from 2014–2022.

Ignored the Minsk Agreements, which were supposed to provide autonomy to Eastern Ukraine but were never honored by Kyiv.

Do not understand the role of the West in escalating tensions, particularly through NATO expansion and interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs.

Let’s break this down:

1. The Forgotten War: What Happened in Eastern Ukraine from 2014 to 2022?

When the U.S.-backed coup overthrew Ukraine’s democratically elected government in 2014 (the Maidan Revolution), it was not just a political shift—it was a forced realignment toward the West.  This alienated millions of Russian-speaking Ukrainians, particularly in Donetsk and Luhansk, who rejected the unelected post-coup government in Kyiv.

- In response, these regions declared independence from Ukraine.

- Kyiv labeled them “terrorists” and launched a military campaign against them.

- Between 2014 and 2022, over 14,000 civilians (including women and children) were killed.

This is indisputable fact, but it was barely covered in Western media.  Instead, the war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces—including shelling residential areas—were ignored. For eight years, Donetsk and Luhansk endured constant bombings, and the Ukrainian government even cut off pensions and essential services to these regions.

* Key Point: Those who say “Russia started the war” ignore that this war had already been ongoing for eight years before Russia intervened.

2. The Minsk Agreements: Proof That Kyiv Never Wanted Peace

The Minsk Agreements (Minsk I in 2014 and Minsk II in 2015) were supposed to bring peace by granting Donetsk and Luhansk autonomy while keeping them within Ukraine.  Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany all signed these agreements.

BUT…

* Ukraine never implemented them.

* Instead, Ukraine used the time to build its military, preparing for a major offensive.

* Western leaders (like Merkel and Hollande) later admitted that Minsk was a stalling tactic to arm Ukraine.

This means Kyiv never had any intention of resolving this peacefully.  They were simply waiting to retake Eastern Ukraine by force.

3. The West’s Role: Why Did Russia Finally Step In?

By late 2021, Ukraine had massively increased its military operations in the Donbas.  Shelling intensified, and there were clear signs of an impending full-scale offensive by Kyiv to wipe out Donetsk and Luhansk.

At the same time:

* NATO was expanding eastward, despite promises in the 1990s not to do so.

* The U.S. was arming Ukraine, sending billions in military aid.

* Ukraine was threatening to retake Crimea, which would have triggered a NATO-Russia confrontation.

On February 21, 2022, Russia formally recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, effectively saying, “Enough is enough.”  Three days later, Russia launched its military operation.

* Key Point: Russia did not “randomly invade.”  It responded to:

- Years of war crimes against Russian-speaking Ukrainians.

- A Kyiv government preparing for a major military offensive.

- NATO’s aggressive expansion, which Russia saw as a direct threat.

Final Thoughts: The Illusion of Good vs. Evil

* The Western narrative paints Ukraine as an innocent victim and Russia as the aggressor, but Hermetics teaches us to look deeper.  This was not a simple case of one side attacking another.  This was a long-planned, Western-backed escalation that forced Russia into action.

* A deeper lesson: Most wars are not what they seem.  They are manufactured conflicts, with hidden hands manipulating events behind the scenes.  Those who see only black and white, good vs. evil, hero vs. villain are still trapped in the illusion.

* The real enemy is not Russia or Ukraine—it is the global system that engineers division to maintain control.  Only by seeing beyond the illusion can we truly understand what is happening in the world.

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The War in Ukraine Through a Hermetic Lens: Lessons for This Group

In the Kybalion, the ancient Hermetic teachings emphasize the principle of Polarity, which states:

"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same."

The conflict in Ukraine—especially between the East and West—perfectly embodies this principle.  It is not just a war of territory but a war of ideologies, perceptions, and control.  The illusion of separation is at the core of this conflict, and as Hermeticists, we must see beyond the illusion to understand the deeper forces at play.

1. The Minsk Agreements: A Lesson in Deception and Cause & Effect

The Principle of Cause and Effect tells us that nothing happens by chance—every action has a reaction.  The Minsk Agreements were never meant to bring peace but were a delay tactic used by Western powers and Kyiv to prepare for further conflict.  This is a prime example of the hidden hand at work, manipulating events behind the scenes while keeping the masses distracted by media narratives.

Those who blindly trust external authorities fail to see the greater pattern—that this conflict was engineered to create division, suffering, and destruction, just as many wars before it.  When we pull back the curtain, we see that the illusion of choice—West vs. East, NATO vs. Russia—is merely a controlled dialectic, keeping people from realizing the true game being played.

Hermetics teaches us to observe the hidden forces behind events, not just the surface narratives.  Those who follow the mainstream story without questioning it are trapped in a spell of illusion—a world of Maya.

2. The War on Consciousness: How Ukraine Mirrors the Battle Within

In Hermetics, war is not just physical—it is spiritual and mental.  The conflict in Ukraine is not merely a struggle over land but over identity, history, and consciousness.  The suppression of the Russian language, the rewriting of history, and the demonization of an entire people reflect a greater war:

* The war on TRUTH itself.

This is the same war being waged everywhere—in the media, in education, in our perception of reality.  Just as Donetsk and Luhansk were cut off and attacked for refusing to conform, so too are those who reject the dominant illusion attacked, censored, and labeled as “misinformation.”

* The lesson?

Think for yourself—do not accept narratives simply because they are repeated.

Discernment is key—question every source, even the ones you are inclined to trust.

Truth is not determined by popularity—it is found by those who seek with an open heart and mind.

3. The Bigger Picture: The Collapse of the Old System

The Principle of Rhythm tells us that everything moves in cycles—what rises must fall, and what falls must rise again.  The war in Ukraine is not isolated—it is part of a global shift, a necessary collapse of the old control structures that have ruled through deception and division.

* The old world is crumbling.

- A new consciousness is rising

Many still cling to the illusion, believing that one side must "win" for peace to exist.  But as Hermetics teaches, true peace comes not from domination, but from understanding.  The shift happening now is forcing humanity to awaken—to see that the games of war, propaganda, and false polarity must be transcended.

Final Words for This Group

This group exists to plant seeds of knowledge, to help people see beyond the veil, and to prepare for the greater shifts that are unfolding.  We do not follow the illusions of left vs. right, East vs. West—we observe from above, understanding that these are only tools used to control the masses.

- If you understand Hermetics, you are not meant to take sides—you are meant to SEE.

- If you are here, it is because you are ready to rise above the illusion.

- What is happening in Ukraine is just one chapter in a greater shift—stay grounded, stay wise, and trust the process.

* Nothing is as it seems, and the best way to win a war is to refuse to be a pawn in the first place.

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Obama Created DOGE!

Obama Created DOGE, and Trump is Just Capitalizing on it to Make America Great Again!

Obama literally built the perfect Administrative (read: Deep) State IT backdoor.  Trump and Musk just hacked the system and took the admin controls.  Musk now has legal oversight of every major agency's internal systems

By Linda K. Dennis

I came across a lawyer, Tom Renz, who actually read Trump's DOGE Executive Order and, expecting some illegal power grab, found it to be airtight.  Turns out Trump and Musk didn't create anything.  Obama did.

Obama created United States Digital Service (USDS) in 2014.  It was meant as a bureaucratic patch job to fix the Obamacare website meltdown.

Fast forward to 2025.  Trump rebrands it DOGE (United States DOGE Service).  Keeps the acronym, keeps the funding, but gives it a whole new mission: Find the Receipts.

Legally untouchable because it was already fully funded and operational.  Trump invokes 5 USC 3161, which allows him to create temporary hiring authorities.  DOGE teams get embedded inside every single federal agency.  Each team consists of a lawyer, HR rep, a zoomer nerd, and an investigator.  They report to DOGE, not the agency they're embedded in. 

But wait, there's more!  Trump invokes 44 USC Chapter 35, which governs federal IT and cybersecurity oversight.  Since USDS was originally an IT oversight body, DOGE now has full access to all federal data systems.  Yes, that’s right.  All of them.

His executive order is written to block legal challenges.  Includes language that overrides conflicting executive orders.  Orders every agency to comply.  Refusal means they violate presidential authority.

Congress can't defund it because it's not a new program, just a repurposed one.  DOJ can't sue for overreach because Trump used existing laws exactly as written.  Democrats trying to file legal challenges run into standing issues because DOGE operates within existing frameworks.

Obama literally built the perfect Administrative (read: Deep) State IT backdoor.  Trump and Musk just hacked the system and took the admin controls.  Musk now has legal oversight of every major agency's internal systems.  The Administrative State can't stop it without rewriting multiple federal laws.

They legally outplayed the system and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

Obama created DOGE.

Trump is just capitalizing on it to Make America Great Again!!

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The Biggest Protest in History at Super Bowl LIX

Super Bowl LXI Great Protest

The Greatest Touchdown in Super Bowl Halftime History

By Rene Bugatti

The biggest protest in history happened on the Super Bowl Stage and folk screaming it's boring because it went over their head.

Then again the message is Blacks have always been here to entertain THEY (Who are not like us) so they aren't bored.

They rather have Wayne up there high, who has pushed Drake to push the agenda.

The messages Kendrick just sent to America could not use Wayne.

It even started with the American Flag being built out of black people as America being built on the backs of black people. 

Before I mention how being cool in our culture has always been stolen, no matter how many people try to steal it, they not like us. 

WAS NOT ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE.. IT WAS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO CONTROL THE MEDIA AND LABELS. OK HERE GOES!

1. Samuel L Jackson playing Uncle Sam aka the house ni**ga) like he played in Django. 

2. Samuel L Jackson warning Kendrick to play the game white America wants us to play and not be "ghetto".

3. The Squid games stage which symbolizes the rich killing the poor.

4. The dancers in Red White & Blue representing the American flag. Been Dancing to the drums of the system.

5. The stage also being a prison yard shaped like a Playstation where his black performers harmonized while he rapped 

6. Protecting black women like Serena Williams after the disrespect from Drake 

7. And once again reminding Drake and America "They Not Like Us" 

8. The system allows Drake to push the Sexxxy Redd to taint the culture

9. Stage was a Playstation.  Squid Game card and the system is a game.

10. Game Over.  TV OFF.  Been under their control

11. Drake Been used to further sour the system and be a plant for the same system Malcolm X warned about from the music execs who own media and use it to divide us.

This is bigger than rap!  And women who feel disrespected should see it.

People who are tired of being divided should see it.  Notice the American flag divided?

But most of all, those who didn't have a lens to see it just shows the system has worked and you're the type it's been working on.

Dude is the most creative genius in hiphop history.

But go off. Maybe we can see more well respected entrepreeurs and family men leading for once.

Here is the kicker: Look at your fb friends who say they wish it was more entertaining.  Yeah, they were who it's been working on.  The system rather keep you choosing entertainment over being educated.

Watch the first 10 secs of his rap.  Dead Pres reference Bigger Than Hiphop.  True Art!

Rappers sent as plants to hurt us will no longer be tolerated.  WE ARE WOKE.  If you're mad at it please don't complain about being looked at a certain way.  

Because you want to bounce to entertainers who promote killing each other and degrading our women.  I guess America thinks it's OK too.

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U.S. TARIFFS - CANADA and THE BOLD CANADIAN OPTIONS of TRUMP or NO TRUMP?

TRUMP or NO TRUMP CANADA?

U.S. TARIFFS: CANADA - THE PRICE OF COMPLACENCY!

By Professor Gilbert Morris
Nassau, The Bahamas

First, no need for all this panicking.  Countries don’t die.  Second, Canada must assess whether and to what degree export/sales will slow as result of the tariffs; at 25% premium they could still see significant sales.

Third, a slight devaluation in the Canadian dollar is a short-term option; which would offset the tariff.

Fourth, Canada needs a bold response that rocks the U.S. back in its heels.  That would be to end the Cuban Embargo by completing a trade Agreement with Cuba to raise up Cuban agriculture, using Canadian know-how, technology and equipment.  Stand up Cuban hotels and open to Chinese tourists.  There would be latency, but the political statement would be bold.  One must attack always, but in these circumstances, moreso and the lesson is they oughtn’t have been resting in the comfort of their U.S. relationships, Trump or no Trump!

Fifth, Canada could join BRICs together with Mexico; purely political…but bold!

The truth is, Canada-(trade:77%)/Mexico-(trade: 84%) were lazy and locked their economies too intimately with the US’s and the sting of lower export volumes will hurt.

Mr. Trump dosen’t have an ask here…not better trade terms or anything, so it seems he just wants to punish Canada and Mexico to the delight of his supporters.

The strategy would be that by mid-term, Trump would be less potent as his chaos would catch up to him.  During his previous administration, tariffs cost him $35 billion in subsidies.  In one of his cascades of executive orders, he rescinded reporting requirements for the department of trade.  So he’ll just claim they are ‘making billions’; which even toddlers know is rubbish.  Also, trade was reduced to Russia and China last administration but accrued not to domestic U.S. suppliers but to Mexico and Canada!

Outlier:

Canada could set up shop in The Bahamas and trade to its U.S. buyers from Bahamas…

This Bahamas option is an outlier.

It would be a matter of “derring do”!

I believe our economic model puts us in a worse “sitting duck” position than is Canada or Mexico.

We must attempt to imagine near impossible options on economy as we must on environment.

Structurally, The Bahamas is perfect as a “stealth” substitute trade hub for Canadian goods to entire U.S.

There, the question is timing, structure, linkages to U.S. strategic business, banking, conceptual framing.

We’d have to have an attitude that it’s a fluid proposition and since Canada nor Mexico structure their trade for leverage…we’d have to use leverage - relationships with persons and companies that are hard to punish - to knit together a trade proposition.

As I’ve said, all successful nations have done a “hard thing”; something that carries high risk, goes against the cultural grain and is asymmetrical.

This could be our hard thing!

But as I said, it’s an outlier proposition…if successful it may succeed only for a while!

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Phases of Robot Integration On The Move

THREE PHASES OF ROBOT INTEGRATION; BEGINNING IN 2025!

We shall never again for all the rest of human history be alone on earth and we shall share the earth with machines that demand our conformity - just as your mobile does now - rather than conforming to us

By Professor Gilbert Morris
Nassau, The Bahamas

Learn this term “device density”…it’s a measure of how many robots are integrated with humans in society on an everyday basis.

What you may not have imagined is there are already 3-5 times as many robots as there are humans:

1. Your mobile device

2. Siri/Alexa

3. Your EV automobile…like Tesla

4. Your digital speakers

5. Your iPad

6. Any digital device in the hope

7. All Social Media

8. Space Probes and Satellites

Imagine three further distinctions:

1. Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT etc.)

2. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) there is a race between NVIDIA, GOOGLE, META, AMAZON, OpenAI and China for dominance in this area.  They aren’t trying to find a cure for diabetes.  They want to become the dominant monopoly capable of controlling all human data or AI capable of full human replacement 

3. Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) means “Singularity” which means all systems and devices would be hyperlinked, with computational computational capacity as near as possible to human cognition; rendering humans obsolete.

Can you handle another distinction?

1. Platform AI - that’s non-Device/non-Robotic AI, usually in the form of a large data centre.

2. Robotic/Device or humanoid-mobile AI

We are in the stage of the first - Platform AI, but 2025 will see the rollout of the second iteration of humanoid robots.  And just so you imagine it correctly: imagine robots being made at the rate of mobile phones!

This means that for the first time and forever in the human future, humans would share the earth with another and perhaps competing computational intelligence.

What would it be like?

First reaction: like Butterflies.  Fascinating, integrating and exhilarating

Second reaction: like Tin-Man or R2D2, machine-human “friendships”!  That’s because the human ego is stimulated by anything that acts like a human…from which humans assume their natural superiority! 

Third reaction: the two reactions above will evolve to “cockroach menace”.  That is the same way you feel about a cockroach infestation, you’ll come to feel about robots, just when they will be multiplying everywhere with a device density of one-to-one; since robots will be manufacturing robots.

We shall never again for all the rest of human history be alone on earth and we shall share the earth with machines that demand our conformity - just as your mobile does now - rather than conforming to us.

If you ask: why wouldn’t these machines be obedient to us, I’ll leave you with the creator-created metaphor: God - the religions say - created you; if you don’t obey your #creator, why should what you created obey you?

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