Epoch INSIGHT Issue 18

BEFORE THE CRACKDOWN The faces and voices of the Canadian Freedom Convoy

By Richard Moore

FEB. 25–MARCH 3, 2022 | $6.95

NO. 8

Editor’s Note

Before the Crackdown for weeks, canadian truckers had planted their trucks in downtown Ottawa as a definitive statement against the government's COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.

The protesters had vowed to stay until the mandates were lifted.

Eventually, Canadian authorities, under the Emergencies Act (previously known as the War Measures Act) invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, swept the area, arresting protesters and towing their trucks.

Insight reporter Richard Moore spent 10 days among the protesters before they were cleared out by police.

In this edition, Moore provides a glimpse of the protesters' stories and what compelled them to risk their livelihoods.

The two words used most frequently by the truckers were "freedom" and "peace" in describing why they had come and how they were going about it.

“I’m here to fight for your rights. I think there is a higher power above us that knows what is going on and how unfair the world has been," said Jamieson, a trucker for 47 years.

“I’m 69 years old. What’s there to be scared of?"

He was arrested on Feb. 18.

Chris, a trucker and honey farmer located northwest of Toronto, said he joined the protest because "our people are hurting [and] can’t even go to church."

Howard Spencer, 44, said: "I’m here to stand up for everyone’s rights and freedoms.

“I’m not an anti-vaxxer. We have a Bill of Rights and I think that’s been lost by the powers that be, and we need to get back to that and get back to our freedoms."

Read the stories of Jamieson, Spencer, and others in this week's edition of Insight.

Jasper Fakkert Editor-in-chief

2 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

JASPER FAKKERT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHANNALY PHILIPP LIFE & TRADITION, TRAVEL EDITOR CHRISY TRUDEAU MIND & BODY EDITOR CRYSTAL SHI HOME, FOOD EDITOR

ON THE COVER Insight reporter Richard Moore spent 10 days with the Canadian truckers and protesters before the crackdown.

COLE BURSTON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

SHARON KILARSKI ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR BILL LINDSEY LUXURY EDITOR FEI MENG & BIBA KAJEVICH ILLUSTRATORS SHANSHAN HU PRODUCTION CONTACT US THE EPOCH TIMES ASSOCIATION INC. 229 W.28TH ST., FL.7 NEW YORK, NY 10001 ADVERTISING ADVERTISENOW@EPOCHTIMES.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS, GENERAL INQUIRIES, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR HELP.THEEPOCHTIMES.COM (USPS21-800)IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE EPOCH MEDIA GROUP, 9550 FLAIR DR. SUITE 411, EL MONTE, CA 91731-2922.

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vol. 2 | no. 8 | feb. 25–march 3, 2022

26 | CDC DATA

50 | Relationships

The agency estimates 1 million extra deaths from any cause since February 2020.

Dating has gotten increasingly difficult, a Pew study finds.

52 | Standing for Truth

28 | The Perfect

Embracing suffering to protect truth is the secret to resisting totalitarianism.

Crime Investigators detail China’s grisly organ harvesting industry.

56 | Saint Tropez Zen

44 | Inflation

A sanctuary delivering privacy in an eminently inviting setting.

The Fed can’t save Democrats from their extreme policies.

58 | Experiencing

45 | CCP Crime

A New York thug allegedly linked to the Chinese regime has been charged with a hate crime.

46 | IPOs

The IPO surge last year sent two contradictory signals about 2022 prospects.

47 | The Metaverse

Metaverse-related trademark applications surge rapidly.

48 | Geopolitical Risk

How the Ukraine conflict could hurt the global economy.

49 | Chinese Economy Beijing pushes policy support for the real estate sector.

Features

12 | Law Enforcement To deal with combative situations, police officers are learning jiu-jitsu, adding more non-lethal options.

16 | Nomads on Federal Land Off-grid communities and mobile living have grown in popularity during the pandemic and as housing prices rise.

38 | Before Trump Impeachment A State Department email details an alleged $7 million bribe from Burisma to the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office.

President Joe Biden addresses the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 24. Biden announced additional sanctions and export restrictions on Russia in response to the attack against Ukraine launched in the early hours of the morning.

60 | Be 007

You don’t need to be a secret agent to use high-tech spy gear.

63 | Let the Good

30 | Freedom Convoy In the days leading up to the Canadian government’s crackdown on the Ottawa protest, truckers said they were standing up for freedom and peace.

THE LEAD

Mexico Founded in 1542, San Miguel de Allende exemplifies Old Mexico.

Times Roll These sport utility vehicles double as limousines.

66 | Room for

Everything In a city known for great dining, Commander’s Palace is extraordinary.

67 | Traveling Manners Trips provide an excellent opportunity to practice etiquette.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 3

4 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

T H G IL T O P S RUSSIA– UKRAINE CONFLICT

BLACK SMOKE RISES FROM A MILITARY airport in Chuhuiv near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned that a “full-scale invasion” was underway. Explosions were heard across Ukraine soon after the announcement.

PHOTO BY ARIS MESSINIS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 5

SHEN YUN SHOP

Great Culture Revived.

Fine Jewelry | Italian Scarves | Home Decor

ShenYunShop.com

6 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Tel: 1.80 0.208.2384

NAT ION • WOR L D • W H AT H A P P E N E D T H I S W E E K

The Week

No.08

A trailer, one of many that populate the nomadic lifestyle community known as “Slab City,” outside Niland, Calif., on Feb. 13.

PHOTO BY ALLAN STEIN/THE EPOCH TIMES

Nomads on Federal Land CDC Estimates 1 Million Excess Deaths Since 2020 The estimate refers to the number of people who died from any cause in the past two years. 26

The Perfect Crime Investigators detail China’s grisly, state-sanctioned organ harvesting industry. 28

16 What Happened in Ukraine Before Trump Impeachment A State Department email details an alleged $7 million bribe paid by Burisma to the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office. 38

INSIDE I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 7

The Week in Short US

t o n . l i w s l o h)Pc s i l b u nerdl ihc et a nirt codni yr o e h t e c a r l a c i t r c h t i w lac i t l op re h t o y na r o ” . yg o l e d i

$5.8

BILLION Consumers in the United States lost more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, an increase of more than 70 percent over the previous year, the Federal Trade Commission said.

— Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)

“I have no regrets.

[There are] more important things besides money and business, such as morals, principles, and values.”

— Enes Kanter Freedom, who is newly without a team in the NBA

$15.1

MILLION Barclays has suspended $15.1 million in bonus share awards to former boss Jes Staley amid an investigation by British regulators into his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Brent crude futures were up 6.47 percent at $103.32 per barrel on Feb. 23 , the first time they had been over the $100 mark since 2014.

Airbnb has announced that it will accommodate another 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan and other countries after meeting its previous goal of housing 20,000.

$80,000 RISE—Home prices have risen by almost 30 percent since 2019, making the typical house roughly $80,000 more expensive than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, said the National Association of Realtors.

8 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

THIS PAGE FROM TOP: ALEX EDELMAN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK; RIGHT PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ANGELA WEISS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, I VIEWFINDER/SHUTTERSTOCK, BRANDON BELL/GETTY IMAGES

20,000 $103.32 REFUGEES PER BARREL

The Week in Short US MEDICINE

Infertility Treatments Increase Risk of Heart, Pregnancy Complications: Study A STUDY PUBLISHED in the

Commuters stand apart while waiting for a train in New York on July 7, 2020.

VACCINATION

Experts Call on US Government to Recognize Natural Immunity A GROWING NUMBER of experts are urging the U.S. government to formally recog-

nize natural immunity, or the protection one enjoys after recovering from COVID-19.

More and more experts are arguing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended vaccination schedule should feature fewer doses—or none at all—for people who have contracted COVID-19 and survived.

“Natural infection should count as two doses,” Dr. Paul Offit, professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and an adviser to the Food and Drug Administration on vaccines, told Insight.

Offit and two former FDA officials said in a recent op-ed that “requiring people who have been infected to get three shots is overkill at best—a waste of valuable doses—and an unnecessary risk at worst (given that vaccines have side effects, albeit rare ones).”

RENT

Americans Priced Out as Rental Rates Spike

Journal of the American Heart Association found that infertility treatments for women may increase the risk of heart and pregnancy complications.

“Advancing maternal age— specifically being age 35 and older—increases the risk of having or developing conditions, such as chronic high blood pressure, that increase the risk of pregnancy complications,” said study author Dr. Pensee Wu, with the Keele University School of Medicine in Staffordshire, in a news release.

Women who received the treatment were at an increased risk of vascular complications, including irregular heartbeats and kidney injuries, as well as pregnancy complications like placental separation, cesarean delivery, or preterm births, the study found. Women who conceived without such treatments had fewer complications.

R E N T S AC R O S S the United

States have been increasing over the past several months, adding economic pressure on millions of households.

In January 2022, rent for 0–2 bedroom properties rose by 19.8 percent year-on-year, according to a report published by Realtor on Feb. 22. This was the eighth straight month in which the rent for these properties grew by double digits. In December, A “For Rent” sign posted near a home in rents for 0–2 bedroom properties had Houston on Feb. 7. risen by 19.3 percent year-on-year.

The median rent in America’s 50 largest metros climbed to $1,789 in January.

The monthly mortgage cost of a starter home in the 50 largest metro areas rose by 11 percent year-on-year to $1,867 in January.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 9

The Week in Short World US–CHINA

China Sanctions US Arms Suppliers Over Sales to Taiwan CHINA IS IMPOSING new sanc-

The Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow on Feb. 22.

RUSSIA

Kremlin Says Putin Will Decide When Ukraine Invasion Ends RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN will decide when the invasion of

Ukraine will end, said a top Kremlin spokesman, hours after Russian military forces attacked several Ukrainian cities in what appeared to be the most significant European land invasion in decades.

The operation “has its goals and they need to be achieved,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state-run media when asked when the operation would end. He didn't provide a timetable.

Moscow is determined to “neutralize the [Ukrainian] military potential, which was boosted considerably lately, including with the active assistance of foreign nations,” Peskov continued, without elaborating or providing details.

Peskov claimed that Russia wouldn't attempt to occupy Ukraine, a country of more than 40 million people, and said the invasion was intended to have limited goals in protecting Moscow’s interests.

UN Projects Climate Change Will Increase Risk of Catastrophic Wildfires

T H E U. N . E N V I R O N M E N T Pro-

gramme (UNEP) predicts that climate change will raise the global likelihood of catastrophic wildfires—defined as 1-in-100-year wildfires—by a factor of 1.31 to 1.57.

“The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report indicates that weather conducive to wildfires (‘fire weather’—hot, dry, and Firefighters fight wildfires near the Ibera windy) is becoming more frequent National Park in northern Argentina on in some regions and will continue to Feb. 22. increase with higher levels of global warming,” a UNEP report states, referring to the IPCC’s AR6 report.

“Countries must meet and exceed their commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce global warming and the prevalence and [behavior] of wildfires globally.

This will, in turn, reduce the social, economic, and ecological impact of wildfires.”

10 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

CANADA

Canada’s Trudeau Revokes Use of Emergencies Act

PRIME MINISTER Justin Trudeau

has revoked the use of the Emergencies Act, saying the situation with the Freedom Convoy protests against vaccine mandates no longer constituted an emergency.

The prime minister defended invoking the act in the first place, saying, “It was the responsible and necessary thing to do.”

He made the announcement during a press conference in Ottawa as the Senate was debating the motion to invoke the act, after MPs voted to approve the motion along party lines.

THIS PAGE FROM TOP: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, JUAN MABROMATA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES; RIGHT PAGE FROM TOP: OMAR MARQUES/GETTY IMAGES, TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, MARYAM EBRAHIME/ISNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

UN

tions on two U.S. military contractors, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, for supplying weapons to Taiwan, in the Beijing regime’s latest retaliation against Washington’s support of the self-ruled island.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, announced the move at a regular press briefing, citing China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. He described Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin, two of the United States’ largest defense manufacturers, as “military industrial enterprises that have long participated in the U.S.’ arms sales to China’s Taiwan region.”

No details were given on the nature of the sanctions.

The measure followed less than two weeks after the United States approved a $100 million military deal to bolster the island nation’s missile defense system. Raytheon and Lockheed were named as primary contractors in the sale.

World inWorld Photos in Photos

1.

1. Ukrainians fleeing from Odessa, Ukraine, at a train station in Przemysl, Poland, on Feb. 25. The Ukrainian government has issued an order to stop 18- to 60 year-old men who are eligible for military conscription from crossing the border. 2. People walk along a road during a heavy snowfall in Srinagar, India, on Feb. 23.

3. Firefighters move a piece of a fighter jet that fell in a residential area of Tabriz, Iran, on Feb. 21.

4. A rainbow in the sky following heavy rainfalls in the Negev desert, Israel, on Feb. 19.

2.

3.

4.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 11

Sgt. Cortez Gardner (L) gets ready for an intensive sparring session at CU Jiu Jitsu gym in Urbana, Ill., on Feb. 10.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Police Officers Add

JIU-JITSU TO TOOLBOX To deal with combative situations, police officers are honing martial arts skills

12 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Nation Police Training

U

By Cara Ding

RBANA, Ill.—Cortez Gardner, patrol sergeant at Urbana Police Department, almost quit when public resentment against police soared after the police custody death of George Floyd.

He became an officer in 2012 to help people go about their lives without fear of violence, which he observed daily growing up on the South Side of Chicago.

After repeatedly reminding himself of why he had become an officer, Gardner stayed and resolved to do his part to make things better.

One way he does that is by learning jiu-jitsu, a martial art focused on hand-to-hand techniques to subdue a combative opponent on the ground.

CU Jiu Jitsu, the local gym that Gardner frequents, saw a number of police officer members join in the past year and a half, according to owner Mike Stoller.

“I think a lot of police feel misjudged by the community—they feel there is a lot of mistrust in them—and they want to do better,” Stoller said.

“They want to show the community, ‘Hey, we want to do our best to deescalate, and we don’t want to have to reach for my gun belt.’”

Stoller’s gym mirrors a growing national trend.

Marietta Police Department in Georgia was one of the first in the nation to mandate jiu-jitsu for new recruits in 2019; Lynnwood Police Department in Washington mandated it for all officers last year; Rahway Police Department in New Jersey started to set up an in-house jiu-jitsu program in early 2022.

At other departments, officers take it upon themselves to learn jiu-jitsu, like Gardner, who pays for his weekly training out of his own pocket.

Jiu-jitsu helps him to do better at ground fighting, which is a common occurrence between police officers and combative suspects.

“If I can take someone down to the ground and I can keep him down until my backup gets there, that keeps me safe and that keeps him safe,” Gardner said.

“But if I take someone down to the ground and they are able to get up, that escalates things quickly.”

That happened during the high-profile shooting of Rayshard Brooks. On June 12, 2020, Atlanta police officers Devin Brosnan and Garrett Rolfe moved to arrest Brooks for driving under the influence. Brooks fought back, and the three of them fell to the ground.

Then Brooks got up, grabbed Brosnan’s taser, and took off running. Rolfe ran after Brooks, who turned and fired the taser toward Rolfe. In I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 13

Nation Police Training

(Left) Sgt. Cortez Gardner (top) brings his opponent under control in a sparring match at CU Jiu Jitsu gym in Urbana, Ill., on Feb. 10.

(Right) When officers get jiu-jitsu training on a regular basis, it helps them to stay calm under pressure and not use lethal force prematurely, Champaign police officer Kenny Meyer (R) says.

return, Rolfe shot Brooks, who later died at the hospital.

Matthew McKinney, night shift sergeant at Urbana Police Department, said another benefit of jiu-jitsu is that with proper training, a smaller person can subdue a larger opponent empty-handedly.

“I am a big guy, I am athletic, I exercise regularly, and I always had the belief that

14 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

fund the police. Instead, he wants to support officers to get better training, according to the organization’s website.

When officers get jiu-jitsu training on a regular basis, it also helps them stay calm under pressure and not prematurely use lethal force, according to Kenny Meyer, a patrol officer at Champaign Police Department, who also trains at Stoller’s gym.

“If you’re not trained for a combat scenario, when in those situations your heart is racing, you’re out of breath, you don’t see what’s around you, and in 30 seconds of fight, you’re much more likely to go to the next level of force to gain compliance,” Meyer said.

At Stoller’s gym, instructors use sparring, a key component of jiu-jitsu, to simulate the real struggle on the street in a safe, controlled environment.

“We teach students to think under high

ALL PHOTOS BY CARA DING/THE EPOCH TIMES

A police department study found that officers in a jiu-jitsu program—compared to officers who were not—had a 48 percent reduction in officer injuries when the use of force was involved.

if I got to a physical altercation with somebody, I was going to be OK,” McKinney said.

His first jiu-jitsu session with Stoller, who is about a foot shorter than him, humbled him quickly.

“We rolled against each other on the ground, and he dominated me the whole time. It was an eye-opening thing, where I was like, ‘If I ever have to arrest someone who is trained or stronger than me, I am going to be in a sticky situation,’” McKinney said.

McKinney received a sponsorship from the Adopt-A-Cop organization to cover his training fees until he reached blue belt, the second adult rank for jiu-jitsu.

Adopt-A-Cop was founded in 2020 by Mitch Aguiar when the defund-the-police movement gained momentum following a slew of high-profile police shootings. Aguiar thinks it’s wrong to de-

Nation Police Training

“I think a lot of police feel misjudged by the community— they feel there is a lot of mistrust in them—and they want to do better.

Mike Stoller, owner, CU Jiu Jitsu

intensity: ‘Can I slow the situation down?

Can I control my thought process? What is my plan? How can I enact my plan?”

Stoller said.

“Everything is about control. They’re learning how to control their own mind and body, and how to control others.”

A 2020 internal study at the Marietta Police Department found that officers in a jiu-jitsu program—compared to officers who weren’t—had a 48 percent reduction in officer injuries when the use of force was involved, a 53 percent reduction in arrestee injuries when force was required, and a 23 percent reduction in taser usage.

More Training Needed Both Gardner and McKinney think jiu-jitsu makes up for the lack of control tactics training at their police department.

They offer free training sessions to local officers every week on their own time.

Control tactics, also known as defensive tactics, occupy the middle space on the use-of-force continuum, with officer presence and verbal command on the lower

end, and nonlethal and lethal weapons on the higher end.

Common law enforcement control tactics include open and closed hand techniques, pressure point control, takedown techniques, speed cuffing, and weapon retention.

In the past 10 years, law enforcement agencies increased training hours on both nonlethal and lethal weapons for new recruits, but not on control tactics, according to surveys of training academies at law enforcement agencies nationwide by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

From 2013 to 2018, the average firearm skills training hours for new recruits went from 67 to 73 hours, and the average training on nonlethal weapons such as tasers, batons, and pepper spray went from 16 to 20 hours. For control tactics, the average training hours stayed flat at 61 hours.

BJS considers officer presence and verbal command part of control tactics.

For Illinois police officers out of train-

ing academy, the state’s annual minimum requirement for firearms training is 40 hours, but for control tactics, it’s only a few hours, according to Paul Petty, a manager of in-service training at Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

Petty said the board only sets the minimum training standards for law enforcement and correctional officers. Many police departments or police officers set the bar higher than the state minimum, but their ability to do so is often limited by money and time, he said.

McKinney’s personal use-of-force principle is to stay as low as possible on the use-of-force continuum and get the job done. Jiu-jitsu gives him another tool to do that.

“The less force we use, the easier it is on us, the easier it is on the person we arrest.

I’ve never met a cop that shows up to work excited to have something crazy happen, because it just means more paperwork, more stress, more injuries, and more potential lawsuits,” McKinney said.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 15

PARING DOWN

FREEDOM Off-grid communities grow in popularity amid pandemic and price increases

A dilapidated recreational vehicle bearing the flag is one of dozens of mobile homes that dot the landscape of Slab City, Calif., on Feb. 13.

16 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

M IN NOMADS’ LAND

T E X T A ND P HO T O S B Y A L L A N S T E IN I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 17

In Focus Feature

Q

UARTZSITE, ARIZ.— AT AGE 63, TOM, A RETIRED CLERICAL WORKER, WASN’T PLANNING TO LIVE OUT HIS GOLDEN YEARS IN THE BACK SEAT OF AN OLD BEATER CAR IN ARIZONA’S SONORAN DESERT. LIVING ALONE ON a fixed income, Tom

said he was just getting by on Social Security until housing prices in Phoenix began to climb in 2021.

He knew he couldn’t afford the higher amounts in monthly rent on his meager income. So he decided to go out on his own, and become a “boondocker,” slang for someone who lives off-grid.

In October, Tom packed all his belongings into his ancient white 1984 Lincoln sedan along with his two cats. Then, he drove 127 miles south to Quartzsite, Arizona, a nationwide destination for recreational vehicles.

Once he got there, he staked out a small patch of dirt on long-term visitor land operated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and marked the boundary line with pebbles.

He’s been calling it home ever since.

“I couldn’t find a place to live. It’s the whole state now. I’m okay with it. I’m able-bodied—you save a lot of money” on rent, he told Insight.

Tom, who asked that his last name not be used, is part of a growing demographic of road nomads, who have chosen or been forced to live full time in a fourwheeled vehicle on public land.

It can be a tense co-existence at times, officials say, as long-term boondockers compete with traditional RV campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors. In recent years, there have been reports of property crime, piles of trash, and other social problems associated with nonrecreational camping.

In March 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development re18 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Tom, a retired clerical worker from Phoenix, stands in front of his 1984 Lincoln sedan at the La Posa Long-Term Visitor Area in Quartzsite, Ariz., on Feb. 12.

A virtual city of RVs occupies a campground in the Imperial Valley of Southern California on Feb. 11.

In Focus Feature

A large tent complete with a solar panel sits on Bureau of Land Management land at the La Posa South Long-Term Visitor Site. The site is home to more than 300 long-term campers, many of whom recently became homeless.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found the national rise in unsheltered homelessness was driven largely by increases in California, a Democrat-run state known for its high cost of living.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 19

In Focus Feature

leased its 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, which found that 580,466 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020, an increase of 2.2 percent from 2019. This included sheltered and unsheltered chronic homeless people, most notably veterans and minorities.

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge called the findings “troubling,” believing that housing should “be a right, not a privilege.”

The report also found that the rise in unsheltered homelessness was driven largely by increases in California, a Democrat-run state known for its high cost of living.

At the La Posa South Long-Term Visitor Area in Quartzsite, where Tom has set down roots for the time being, volunteer host coordinator Sue Parker said it’s easy to tell a long-term visitor from a regular camper.

The long-term visitor has been issued a yellow sticker to place on their windshield, she said.

The fee for a long-term permit is $180 for a seven-month seasonal stay between September and April. Amenities include bathrooms with running water and a place to dump refuse. The BLM’s Yuma Field Office manages the La Posa site.

Parker said that at last count, there were 300 long-term visitor permits issued in La Posa in 2022. “A lot of them” have been for people arriving from Cal20 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

(Left) Sue Parker, the volunteer host coordinator at the Bureau of Land Management’s La Posa South Long-Term Visitor Area. (Above) Jimmy James, a musician and owner of an arts and gifts store in Slab City, says living in the nomadic community offers freedom from the challenges of urban life. ifornia, she said.

“We’ve had people from Australia and Japan. They have their computers, so there’s internet here,” she told Insight.

When long-term visitors get sick, “we call an ambulance.” When there’s trouble, “we call police,” Parker said.

Tom said COVID-19 wasn’t a factor in his decision to go off-grid. Instead, he needed a place—any place—within driving distance of his elderly mother, who is 89.

“My life is right here in this car,” said Tom as he rummaged through the car trunk where he keeps his tools and other essential possessions.

Parked around him was a motley assortment of camper vans, tents, and recreational vehicles, all with yellow stickers, in various stages of decay.

The thing Tom said he likes most about boondocking is the freedom and privacy of wide-open spaces, the warm desert winters, and spectacular mountain views.

“I have a fan,” he said when asked about the hot weather. “When it gets real hot, I go somewhere else. My best neighbors are right here in this ant hole. I don’t bother them. They don’t bother me. No drama.”

I TRIED TO GO BACK TO THE CITY LIFE. AFTER EXPERIENCING THAT, I CAME BACK. I DIDN’T WANT TO BE A SLAVE AGAIN. I’M HERE TO ...

GO OFF-GRID. THE FREEDOM. YOU CAN BE WHO YOU WANT.” Vida, resident, Slab City

Scorpions, however, don’t make very good neighbors. He suspects a scorpion sting killed one of his two beloved cats.

He drapes the car windows and doors with sunshades to stay cool. He uses a propane stove for cooking.

In Focus Feature

(Top left) Each year, an enormous religious shrine known as “Salvation Mountain” attracts thousands of visitors to Slab City in California. (Bottom left) An old truck painted in acrylic greets visitors at Salvation Mountain. (Above) Hundreds of acrylic paint cans were used to create Salvation Mountain. (Right) Salvation Mountain caretaker Ron poses with his dog and cat.

“It’s not horrible,” Tom said of off-grid living. “A little lonely, I suppose. Sometimes.”

About 130 miles west of Quartzsite lies the rural agricultural town of Niland, California. Next to it, Slab City, an old World War II military base settled years ago by nomads and artists seeking freedom from the burgeoning human cost of urban living.

Slab City, however, has no official owner, residents say. The “city” got its name from the slabs of concrete left behind by the military and on which many decrepit campers now reside.

The eclectic community is often viewed as a work in progress. It boasts having an Internet cafe, library, free coffee shop, and a thriving artistic community in a place called “East Jesus.” There’s even a volunteer “Slab Cab” taxi service for a nominal fee.

For the religious-minded, Salvation Mountain, with its towering white cross and painted biblical verses, proclaims “God Is Love.” Every year, thousands of visitors arrive eager to ponder its spiritual messages.

“Hey, mom, I forgot. What’s a sinner?” asked a boy, about 8 years old.

Jimmy James, 53, an artist and musi-

cian from Wisconsin, said he’s been a Slab City dweller since the day his converted school bus broke down here almost four years ago.

Now, he owns and operates an arts and gifts store, lives in a trailer, and hopes someday to sell the business and buy a new school bus, and hit the road once again.

As “the last free place” in America, Slab City living isn’t free, though, James said.

It costs him $50 a day to live comfortably, on average.

“You have to have some kind of income unless you want to live off of scraps,” he told Insight. “You’re free to be an artist.

Nobody is going to tell you what to do.”

But even the “free stuff” from local charities comes at a price.

“The free stuff that comes out here demeans you after a while. I think it’s better to earn your money,” James said.

A single mother from San Diego, Vida makes her living doing tarot card readings and massage therapy out of a trailer.

Though, at one point, she had “an amazing job” in Los Angeles that left her feeling stressed out and drained.

“I was working so much, doing this, doing that for [the] church. I was in online school, and I was just about to have a

mental breakdown,” she said. “It was like, too much. Nothing was feeding my soul.

I was working six days a week. I was all about money. I had a nice studio apartment—everything.”

“Enough was enough,” she told Insight.

“I didn’t want to be a slave anymore. So I came here without knowing anything about it. When I came here, it was open arms. I was welcomed.”

Of the current estimated 500 longtime Slab City residents, everyone has a different story to tell, she said.

Some came here searching for something, others to leave something behind.

“I tried to go back to the city life. After experiencing that, I came back. I didn’t want to be a slave again. I’m here to home school (her toddler son) and go off-grid. The freedom. You can be who you want,” Vida said.

However, when it comes to hard times, people always seem to pull together as a community, said Vida. And while random acts of kindness are common, “not everybody is a freeloader. There’s people that have regular jobs they go to. People come here to retire.”

It’s not like home, “it is home.” The tourists, she said, are another story.

The inconsiderate ones leave their I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 21

In Focus Feature

WE HAVE PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURITY WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO LIVE IN SUBURBIA. IN SLAB CITY, YOU CAN LIVE ON $1,000 A MONTH.” Peter Passalacqua, artist, Adobe trash behind, or they’ll take unwelcome pictures.

Or, they’ll “fly by” in expensive cars, trucks, and SUVs and put people in danger, Vida said.

“Most people have just had it” with urban life, observed Jon, a Niland resident, who makes frequent visits to Slab City to help people in need. He described the relationship between Slab City and Niland as generally good.

“People in town and people here just kind of get along. They come into town to go grocery shopping or get their mail.

It’s self-governing, so to speak,” he told Insight. “I think [people] are starting to come out more. But they have to have the sense that it’s going to hit 120 degrees in the summertime.”

Adobe artist Peter Passalacqua, 51, dressed in a black top hat, bright orange and gold-embroidered vest, and loose-fitting pants, said he moved to Slab City from Portland, Oregon, three years ago to become a better artist.

“We have people on Social Security who can’t afford to live in suburbia,” he said. “In Slab City, you can live on $1,000 a month. My goal is $20 a day. There really is nothing hard about living in Slab City. You have to have your own water.

You have to feed yourself. A lot of [older] people come here to die.”

“You don’t choose to come to Slab City,” Passalacqua said. “Slab City chooses you.”

22 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

While living off-grid is often associated with urban areas, since the Great Depression, national forests and grasslands have also served as a refuge for itinerant people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Service.

“In recent years, more people are living on the national forests and grasslands, whether by choice or because of economic circumstances. Unfortunately, the presence of nonrecreational campers affects the experience of other users and results in increased levels of trash and resource degradation that can be costly to remediate,” the agency said.

In 2015, Lee Cerveny, a social scientist with the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Joshua Baur, a professor at San Jose State University, surveyed law enforcement officers nationwide to determine how often they encountered nonrecreational campers and the effects of their lifestyle on the natural and social environment.

The study found transient retirees formed the largest group of nonrecreational campers, followed by displaced families, and homeless people.

“Economic instability was perceived to be a contributing factor for residing on the national forest, followed by drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health concerns,” the study found.

The Willamette National Forest in Oregon, meanwhile, is using information from the study to better equip frontline employees when dealing with nonrecreational campers, including how to address the health challenges of living outdoors.

“It would be interesting to probe a bit about where the ‘choice’ is in their decision-making. Many folks in this community have few choices. They are pushed to the edges financially and if they did not live in this way, they might be living in a shelter,” Cerveny said. “They also may face mental health challenges [anxiety] or trauma that make sedentary habitation challenging.”

Cerveny said the freedom to move and keep moving may be critical for some, though for others with anxiety, “perpetual movement and freedom from entrapments may be therapeutic.”

Since the study was released, Cerveny has been getting calls from public land managers in many states asking about new information, “which suggests that I might want to repeat the 2015 study,” she said.

At RV Lifestyles in Quartzsite, sales department employee Susie Taylor said the number of people living and working out of their recreational vehicles has been on the rise since the pandemic.

Slab City’s free library offers thousands of volumes, all donated, said librarian Zoe.

In Focus Feature

580,466 HOMELESS IN MARCH 2021, THE U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 580,466 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020, an increase of 2.2 percent from 2019.

“What I’ve noticed coming not only from an RV sales point of view but a repair point of view is that there’s more people traveling as more people weren’t able to go back to work,” Taylor told Insight.

“They were forced to work from home.

They realized if they were able to find a way to be mobile they would work from their mobile unit instead of staying at home, in the snow, and they could travel where there was sunshine. We see an influx of people that way, and the age is much younger than the normal retired people we would see from years past.”

Taylor said that living in an RV gives people “the best of both worlds. They can be in weather that they like.”

“I’ve been on the road full-time almost

30 years myself, doing RV repair nearly 25 of those years, and then working in an RV dealership such as this since my husband passed,” she said. “It’s giving them the best of both worlds, raising their kids on the road, doing homeschool and all that.”

Since much of the remote work is done on a computer, she said, the nomadic lifestyle is even more appealing—and feasible.

Many people new to boondocking have been at it for a couple of years, she said.

“They’re still in the excitement, the honeymoon of it all. I do like the lifestyle, but my dream is to be a snowbird. They look at me funny. I’d like to have a home base somewhere again, because I’m getting older. When you’ve been doing it for a long time, some of it does wear on you.

You’re moving all the time.”

Taylor said the demand for RVs has been growing since the pandemic, and some models are hard to find.

According to the RV Industry Association, the latest sales forecast for year-end 2021 was between 594,000 and 611,000 units, a nearly 40 percent gain over 430,412 units shipped in 2020 during the pandemic. Continued growth is expected through 2022 with shipments expected to surpass 600,000 units.

Sue Taylor, a sales employee at RV Lifestyles in Quartzsite, Ariz., says that living in an RV gives people “the best of both worlds”—“they can be in weather that they like.”

Slab City, Calif., billed as “The Last Free Place,” attracts thousands of visitors each year. Still, living in this bohemian community isn't totally free.

“People [who] owned an RV that they used to travel in for vacations not being able to keep their home anymore [meant] they had to make a choice, so they would sell the home and keep the RV and do that lifestyle,” Taylor said.

“It’s the cheapest way to live. They can live here in Quartzsite. They can live on the BLM land for seven months for the cost of $180 total. And they provide sewer, dump, water, fill-up, and trash dump.

They call it boondocking, where they’re not plugged in. They’re kind of off-grid, if you will. And a lot of them have solar, they live off-grid and they feel really free that way.”

“Pretty much anybody who buys [an RV] anymore says that’s their plan. The sad part is they go into it uneducated.

If you do it wrong, it can cost a lot of money. Most people are just trying for a simple life—more freedom. If they’re out for the glamorous life, I don’t think they’ll stay with it long,” Taylor said.

Tom, at La Posa Long-Term Visitor Area, said his dream is to find a home that suits him at a price he can afford.

But even that seemed like a pipe dream as he sat basking in a fold-out chair in the shade of his open car trunk in 80-degree weather.

“If I can find a place, [fine], but I’ve pretty much given up,” he said.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 23

24 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

SPOTLIGHT

CROSSCOUNTRY PROTEST

SUPPORTERS WATCH FROM AN overpass as the People’s Convoy made up of truckers and protesters begins its journey to Washington to rally against COVID-19 mandates, near Barstow, Calif., on Feb. 23.

PHOTO BY MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 25

H E A LT H DATA

CDC Estimates 1 Million Excess Deaths Since 2020

By Katabella Roberts

26 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

FROM L: APU GOMES/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, JOHANNES EISELE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

The estimate refers to the number of people who died from any cause in the past 2 years

T

he centers for disease control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that there have been more than 1 million excess deaths in the United States linked to the COVID-19 pandemic since February 2020.

According to CDC data, which are updated on a weekly basis, the number of excess deaths in the country was 1,045,389 as of Feb. 17.

Excess death is a term used in epidemiology and public health. It refers to the number of people who die from any cause during a specific period of time, and it’s compared with a historical baseline from recent years.

The state with the highest number of excess deaths since February 2020 is California, which accounts for 104,553,

Pandemic Mortality

Nurses and health care workers mourn their colleagues who died during the outbreak of COVID-19, outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on April 10, 2020.

Los Angeles County paramedics load a COVID-19 patient into an ambulance before transporting him to a hospital in Hawthorne, Calif., on Dec. 29, 2020.

followed by Texas, with 98,271 excess deaths, according to the CDC. Hawaii has the lowest number of excess deaths, with 1,372.

Estimates of excess deaths “can provide information about the burden of mortality potentially related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including deaths that are directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19,” according to the CDC. “Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between the observed numbers of deaths in specific time periods and expected numbers of deaths in the same time periods,” the agency stated.

The CDC noted that the excess deaths “were calculated using Farrington surveillance algorithms.”

While the majority of the excess deaths

were because of COVID-19, an increased The majority of the deaths weren’t number of deaths were also because of linked to COVID-19. a number of other conditions during While the increase in deaths could be the COVID-19 pandemic, such as heart seen across the country, some states exdisease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s, di- perienced a higher rise in deaths than abetes, and a number of other ailments, others, with the South, Midwest, and the according to the agency.

West Coast seeing steeper hikes among For instance, CDC data show that an young to middle-aged individuals. extra 63,001 people have died since FebNortheastern states generally saw ruary 2020 of hypertensive diseases and much milder increases, with New Hampthat more than 67,400 people have died shire seeing no mortality increase and no because of Alzheimer’s or dementia-re- COVID-19 deaths in those aged 18 to 49. lated illnesses.

Delaware saw a 10 percent mortality inMore than 30,000 people crease in deaths, of which have died from ischemic zero were attributed to heart disease, in which COVID-19. Massachusetts heart problems are caused had just a 13 percent rise by narrowed heart arterin deaths, of which 24 OF THE MORE THAN ies, and 31,809 people have percent were attributed 3.3 million recorded died from cerebrovascular to COVID-19. Maryland deaths in 2020 were COVID-19–related, disease, which refers to a experienced a 16 peraccording to official data. group of conditions that cent increase in deaths, affect blood flow and blood 42 percent of which was vessels in the brain. attributed to COVID-19.

More than 2.8 million people died in Public health authorities in several the United States in 2019, according to states confirmed to The Epoch Times final mortality data from the Nation- that they’re examining the issue of surgal Center for Health Statistics released ing mortality rates among the age group. in December 2021. More than 3.3 milThe CDC’s data show the total number lion people died as the virus started to of COVID-19 deaths up to the week endspread across the country in 2020, of ing Feb. 12 at 914,242, with 70,063 thus which 377,883 were COVID-19-related far in 2022 and 458,707 in 2021. deaths, according to official data.

“We did not handle it well. That’s glar“We’ve never seen anything like it,” ingly obvious,” Stephen Woolf, director Robert Anderson, chief of the CDC’s mor- emeritus of the Center on Society and tality statistics branch, told The Wash- Health at Virginia Commonwealth Uniington Post. versity, told The Washington Post. “The An analysis of death certificate other countries got hit by the same vidata from the CDC by The Epoch Times rus, but no country has experienced the also shows that deaths among individu- number of deaths we have, and even if als aged 18 to 49 increased by more than you adjust for population, we are among 40 percent in the 12 months ending in the highest in the world.”

October 2021 compared to the same 12-month period in 2018 to 2019.

Petr Svab contributed to this report.

377,883

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 27

China Organ Harvesting

The Perfect Crime C C P AT R O C I T Y

Investigators detail China’s state-sanctioned and grisly organ harvesting industry

T

By Eva Fu

hey were in robust health when they were put on the operating table for doctors to carve out their organs. Many of them were still breathing. When the job was done, the bodies were tossed into the incinerator and burned, leaving no trace behind.

The spine-chilling scene is a lived reality for prisoners of conscience in China under the regime’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, recounted by two investigators at a Feb. 17 virtual webinar hosted by Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute.

“There was no charge, no hearing, no appeal,” said David Kilgour, Canada’s former secretary of state for Asia-Pacific, who, together with Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas, spent years investigating the issue.

“A policeman just simply said: ‘You’re going to this work camp over here.’ ... You waited, working 16 hours a day,” he said. “Then one day somebody would come in, seize them, give them a little potassium, and then their organs would be taken out and their bodies would be burned.

“That’s how the rule of law works in China in terms of getting organs.”

It’s a “perfect crime, because there actually aren’t any survivors” of the operation, added moderator Nina Shea, a human rights lawyer and former commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

The billion-dollar organ harvesting industry, which boomed at the same time the regime escalated a brutal eradication campaign targeting the spiritual group Falun Gong in the early 2000s, has been covered up in China for decades.

Even in the West, officials and medical bodies were reluctant to confront the issue until 2019,

28 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

(Above) Falun Dafa practitioners raise awareness about forced organ harvesting atrocities in China during a march celebrating World Falun Dafa Day, in Manhattan on May 16, 2019. (Left) Whistleblower Annie at a press conference in Washington on April 20, 2006, at her first public testimony about largescale organ harvesting atrocities in China.

2,000 CORNEAS ANNIE’S HUSBAND

performed some 2,000 cornea removal operations over a twoyear period, beginning in 2001. He was so tormented by his conscience that he began having nightmares.

when an independent people’s tribunal in London concluded “beyond a reasonable doubt” that organ harvesting from Falun Gong inmates had taken place for years “on a significant scale.”

Annie (an alias), a former worker at a Chinese hospital in northeastern China, was the first to shed light on the horrific abuse, in 2006. In testimonies to The Epoch Times later corroborated by others, she revealed how her now ex-husband, a military surgeon at the same hospital, forcibly removed corneas from Falun Gong practitioners.

Her account was what brought the two Davids together to investigate the issue. They later re-

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: EDWARD DYE/THE EPOCH TIMES, THE EPOCH TIMES, SIMON GROSS/EPOCH TIMES

China Organ Harvesting

“Everywhere else, there’s a shortage of organs, and organs are allocated depending on priorities, but in China, the whole system was run as if there was an inexhaustible supply of organs.”

David Matas, human rights lawyer

leased a report titled “Bloody Harvest,” in which they examined hundreds of hospitals in China, drawing from media reports, medical journals, and archives. They found that the Chinese regime had been using Falun Gong adherents as a living organ bank while significantly undercounting the number of transplants done each year.

Annie’s husband performed more than 2,000 cornea removal operations over a two-year period beginning in 2001, she later told the two in an

David Matas, along with David Kilgour, found that since the early 2000s, the Chinese regime had been using Falun Gong adherents as a living organ bank.

interview. Her husband was so tormented by his conscience that he began having nightmares, arousing Annie’s suspicion.

The two split after Annie decided she couldn’t accept his complicity in the act. Both of them escaped overseas after receiving threats on their lives.

“This is a national crime,” she said in a statement to The Epoch Times in April 2006.

Annie’s husband felt a deep sense of remorse when he cut open an unwilling donor’s clothes and saw a small box fall out, according to Annie, who had read the account in a journal her husband kept. The small box contained a round Falun Gong pin along with a handwritten note.

“Happy Birthday, Mom,” it read.

Despite the defection of Annie and several others, the organ harvesting machinery has continued to operate, attracting transplant tourists from around the world who are lured by promises from Chinese hospitals of speedy organ matches and surgeries.

“Everywhere else, there’s a shortage of organs, and organs are allocated depending on priorities, but in China, the whole system was run as if there was an inexhaustible supply of organs,” said Matas. “All they had to do was show up and pay the money.

“The whole system is compartmentalized, and everybody would pretend to be willfully blind to the other components of the system.”

Kilgour recalled speaking to a patient from Asia who was presented with four matching kidneys in succession over a few months. The first three kidneys were rejected by his body, and the fourth one was a success. The doctor, who wore a military uniform, presented the first matching kidney shortly after their first meeting.

“They take all the organs. They don’t just take one kidney,” said Kilgour. “So four people died so that this man could get a good kidney. Isn’t that incredible?”

Two dozen counties in Virginia have recently passed resolutions to condemn the Chinese regime’s organ harvesting and warn their residents against taking part in organ tourism in the country. The Texas state Senate has passed similar resolutions.

Some U.S. officials are seeking action in Congress to bring the perpetrators to account.

The two investigators agreed that international bodies need to do more on the issue. Kilgour said he was embarrassed that Canada hadn’t passed any legislation on organ harvesting.

“There’s a few, but not enough,” said Matas, urging countries to cut off collaboration of any kind with the Chinese transplant system.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 29

Young Rupert Jack (C) and his mom, Julia, of Ottawa, brought along a Valentine’s heart to give to Mike Jamieson (top) and to let him know he had their support, at the blockade in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 16.

30 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

The Lead Canada

CANADA

FREEDOM C CONVOY The faces and voices of the Canadian trucker protest Text and Photos By Richard Moore

anadians—whichever side of the Freedom Convoy protest they sit on—will be counting the cost of the three-week demonstration in the capital Ottawa for some time to come.

By Feb. 21, police had made 196 arrests, with 110 people charged with an assortment of matters including obstructing police, causing a disturbance, disobeying a court order, mischief, and assault.

Police said some unlawful protesters returned to the area after being arrested and released, and now face new charges.

Authorities towed away 175 vehicles, including heavy trucks, pickups, and cars.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson estimated that the protest action was costing the city upward of $626,000 a day, while Ottawa police put the bill of policing the first 18 days of the blockade at about $14 million.

The truckers with rigs that have been towed away are likely to lose their livelihoods, since Watson wants to confiscate their vehicles to help pay for city costs.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 31

The Lead Canada

after 10 days of interviews with truckers and those who supported them, it was clear that opposition to what many protesters saw as government overreach wouldn’t end even after the streets of Ottawa were cleared.

Mike Jamieson’s white whiskers made him look like a lot like a certain character who flies around the world at Christmas; while his transport was no magical sleigh, it certainly was an attention-grabbing, bright yellow Freightliner big rig.

Amid dozens of other vehicles parked on the eastern end of Ottawa’s Wellington Street, its size and color—complete with two distinctive flags of Nova Scotia sitting on either side of its engine— made the truck impossible to ignore.

So much so that on Feb. 16, young Rupert Jack and his mom, Julia, of Ottawa, brought along a Valentine’s heart to give to the trucker and let him know he had their support, and that he and the other drivers were all doing an important thing.

Julia said she thought the Canadian government’s vaccine mandates were illegal under the Nuremberg Code, a set of principles developed after the Nazi atrocities in World War II, during which people were subjected to cruel medical experimentation.

After delivering his heart, Rupert’s next wish was to honk the truck’s horn.

Jamieson, of Windsor, Nova Scotia, was tickled by the youngster’s attention and helped him into the cab, where he was able to sound the truck’s warning claxon.

The boy was thrilled.

Jamieson, who told Insight that he’d been a trucker for 47 years, arrived at the protest site in Ottawa on Jan. 28. He said he came to stand up for freedom.

That word was the one most frequently used by people who spoke to Insight in the Freedom Convoy encampment in the Canadian capital, directly across from Parliament Hill.

It was used by speakers on the stage in the center of the protest area, protesters with megaphones, and in quieter conversations between truckers or those who came into the city to show their support.

32 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

The word was featured on signs, flags, and messages that adorned the rigs, and placed along the fleur-de-lis-topped metal fence that edges the parliamentary and governmental precinct.

The second-most-common word was “peace,” and none of the hundreds of Canadian truckers there seemed the slightest bit interested in doing anything other than staging their protest against pandemic restrictions and mandates in a peaceful manner.

“I’m here to fight for your rights. I think there is a higher power above us that knows what is going on and how unfair the world has been. And what is going on in the world,” Jamieson said, adding that he would stay until the protest was over.

‘I’m Doing It for My Grandchildren’ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Feb. 14 declared a state of emergency to break the trucker protest, invoking what was previously known as the War Measures

You have to fight for what you believe in and fight for your freedom.

Mike Jamieson, trucker

Mike Jamieson, a trucker for 47 years, is led away from his truck after being arrested on Feb. 18.

The Lead Canada

Act. At the press conference announcing the state of emergency, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a number of measures to reduce funding to the protests, including giving banks the power to freeze the accounts of those involved in the protests. Freeland said companies whose trucks were used in the blockades would have their corporate accounts frozen and their insurance suspended.

Jamieson said he wasn’t scared about losing his truck.

“I’m not scared if I lose anything,” he said, chuckling. “I’m 69 years old. What’s there to be scared of?

“If you have to live in fear, there is no point. We should be able to walk in peace and do what is right. I’ve always lived within the law and about the law.

“I’d like to have freedom for my kids so that they can have a better life ... to have things more fair for people.”

Jamieson said he felt the world was in chaos—not just Canada.

“I don’t like to put people out of their comfort zones, but, sometimes, you have to. You have to fight for what you believe in and fight for your freedom,” he said.

Two days later, on Feb. 18, Jamieson was arrested by two police officers for refusing to move his truck. He wore a red cap that day with the words “Save Canada.”

He exited the cab of his truck peacefully, put his hands behind his back, and was handcuffed and escorted to an area where other protesters were being processed.

Bill Dykema, 71, from Grimsby, Ontario, was one of the first truckers to block Wellington Street, which borders the parliamentary precinct. He has a deeply lined face, glasses, a twinkle in his eyes,

I have never before done anything like this. I am doing it for my grandchildren.

Bill Dykema, trucker

and a friendly smile.

Asked why he was protesting for the first time, his answer was simple.

“I have 19 grandchildren. [It’s] for them, and to give them their freedom,” he told Insight. “My grandson wants to go to university, but he can’t because he’s not shot, not injected.

“I don’t call it a vaccine or injection because it’s bad stuff in my book. Our best friend, she got one shot—we buried her.

“I’m just a 71-year-old, poor old working man. Our freedoms are gone. You can’t go to a restaurant unless you’re shot.”

Dykema estimated that he probably was losing $1,400 to $1,500 a week while living in his truck at the protest camp.

“I have never before done anything like this. I’m doing it for my grandchildren,” he said.

Armand Theriault, 57, is a retired worker from Quebec. He went to Ottawa to support the truck drivers.

“What these guys do is for everyone,” he said on Feb. 11, “[for] freedom for us and your children.”

Dressed in a green winter jacket, a business shirt, and a tie, Theriault had a

Trucker Bill Dykema, from Ontario, Canada, was one of the first protesters to park his rig in the center of the city. He says he is taking action for his 19 grandchildren.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 33

196 ARRESTS

By Feb. 21, the Canadian police had made 196 arrests.

quiet determination about him.

He arrived on Jan. 10 and spent his first evening walking among the vehicles, keeping an eye out for anything amiss.

Not everyone in Ottawa was happy with the protest.

As Theriault spoke with Insight, a man walked by and loudly berated him in French, saying, “You crashed the economy.”

He shrugged it off, and said it was important to provide extra security at night.

“We do everything we can,” he said.

“This is a peaceful protest, and we want to know the truth. It is not just us who will win; every country around the world will.”

‘We Are Here in Peace’ One of the icons of the protest was Dana-Lee Melfi, 50.

With a long gray beard and hair to match, he stood silently for up to 10 34 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

hours a day with a Canadian flag in one hand while flashing a peace sign with the other.

“I have been here since before the beginning. I was born in Ottawa, and I can’t stand to see what our country is becoming,” Melfi told Insight.

“We are here in peace, but there were a couple of bad actors and jokers in front of these trucks. So the truck drivers have asked me to stand here and hold the line.

“I stand here 10 hours a day and show our simple message that we are here in peace.”

What does Melfi do for a living?

“I am a government employee ... maybe,” he said, laughing.

“They all have to go,” he said about the vaccine mandates and restrictions. “No one can force me to do anything to my body that I do not wish.

“It’s very un-Canadian.”

A nearly retired carpenter from Orleans, Denis Cadieux, told Insight that he liked

almost everything about the protests and the way that people had behaved.

If there was one thing he would have changed, it would have been to exclude the negative signs and messages.

Cadieux said the main phrase he didn’t like was the one that said “[expletive] Trudeau.”

“Trudeau is a human being like anybody. He makes mistakes and, unfortunately, he is making such a big mistake he needs to step down,” Cadieux said.

“And that we understand, but we cannot hate him for that. Hate is a big word.”

He said Trudeau and the mainstream media had made it sound like the protesters were disrupting the economy, “but actually, it is their delays in not sitting down to speak with us that are disrupting the economy.”

Chris “the Beeman,” a trucker and honey farmer from northwest of Toronto, was with the truck protest in Ottawa

The Lead Canada

People are going to get arrested because they fought for their freedoms.

Chris “the Beeman,” former trucker and honey farmer

I’m cooking for everybody. We are all in this together.

Marie Eye, protester

A faceoff between protesters and police in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 18.

“since the start.” The Beeman and his fellow drivers were in a residential part of the central city near Bank and Slater streets on Feb. 13.

He told Insight the protesters were mindful of being where people lived and had been respectful to the residents.

“We don’t blow our horns, we don’t honk our horns. There was a birthday party across the street last night. We talk to the kids; it’s all good. It’s like a little family on this street,” he said.

Was he worried about what was coming from the police?

“No, we have a right to demonstrate our rights to freedom,” he said.

“People are going to get arrested because they fought for their freedoms.

What they are doing to the people—lockdowns and everything—is criminal.

“It all needs to come to an end because our people are hurting. Our people can’t even go to church. We have rights

[It’s the Trudeau government’s] delays in not sitting down to speak with us that are disrupting the economy.

Denis Cadieux, carpenter

We have people from coast to coast ... supporting what is happening here.

Benita Pedersen, protest organizer

This is a peaceful protest and we want to know the truth.

Armand-Theriault, retired worker

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 35

The Lead Canada

of freedom and religion, so why can’t people go to church? You can’t tell me only 10 people can go to a funeral now?”

What would he do when told to move on?

“I’m not worried about losing my truck, but before I get tossed in the basket, it will lose all four tires,” he said.

‘We Are on the Right Side of History’

wearing a black beanie and an almost constant smile, told Insight that he had been at the protest for 20 days and wasn’t worried about losing his truck.

His vehicle was one of the closest to the protest’s center.

“I have 15,” he shrugged.

Trucker Doug Day, from Kitchener, Ontario, had been at the site of the protest for about six days and admitted living in a small truck cab wasn’t comfortable, particularly with his large three-legged dog Lucky with him.

“It’s a little rough sleeping in the truck, but, hopefully, we can stop the overreach of the government,” he said.

“I’d like to see Trudeau stand down.

He’s the laughing stock of the world, and he’s doing the wrong thing.

“History will not be kind to him.”

Nearby, Louis Lassard of Quebec told Insight that the Ambassador Bridge protest blockade was “beautiful” and that his fellow truckers “are holding the line.”

He hadn’t heard that police had moved in that morning and cleared the way for about $400 million in goods to resume running across the span linking Ontario to the United States.

Disappointed with the news, Lassard said: “I’m going to stay as long as it takes.

“I don’t care about them taking my ‘Our Elected Representatives Are Not Listening to the People.’ truck. I don’t care.

“How many times did Gandhi or Nel- Howard Spencer, 44, from near Vancouson Mandela get arrested for doing the ver, said on Feb. 11 that he had been at right thing? So I don’t mind. We will face the protest for two weeks. the consequences of whatever has to “I’m here to stand up for everyone’s happen, but something has to happen.

“We are on the right side of history here.”

(Top) Protesters Two other truckers from Quebec, Eric confront a police and Patrick, who declined to give Insight line backed up by their last names, said they were protesting against mask and vaccine mandates. mounted officers on Feb. 18.

“In Quebec, we have no more rights,” Eric said. “I’m here because I want my (Bottom) Signs rights back—for my children, for the othsupporting the Freedom Convoy er children, for the future generations.

2022 adorn fences “I’m not going to move until this [exalong Wellington pletive] is done.”

Early on Feb. 16, Gaston Lanthier, an Street in the center of Ottawa on Feb. 12.

Ottawa resident, and Stephane Elia, a trucker from Quebec, were in a central (Opposite) Families café having coffee. join the protest after police distributed Lanthier said he supported the trucker arrest notices protest. He had a few friends who were to truckers and truckers, and he’d met others recently their supporters in the city.

“To be quite honest, they are very nice occupying Wellington Street and the people,” Lanthier said.

Parliament Hill area.

Elia spoke little English and so Lanthier did most of the talking to Insight.

“People are divided 50-50 on the issue.

We live in a very selfish world. It’s me, myself, and I,” Lanthier said.

He said it took the truckers to come in to have other leaders follow, “because nobody else would have done it.”

On Feb. 16, Andre Landry of Quebec, 36 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

rights and freedoms,” he said.

“I’m not an anti-vaxxer. We have a Bill of Rights, and I think that’s been lost by the powers that be, and we need to get back to that and get back to our freedoms. I think they are eroding.”

Dressed in a red-and-black checked lumberjack shirt and leaning up against the bullbar of a friend’s truck, Spencer said he was planning to stay for as long as it took.

He said he was losing money, but that was not of concern. Spencer said it was all about the principle.

“I feel this is the right thing to do.”

His goal was for politicians to “drop all the mandates and get back to our lives that we are used to.”

Toward the western section of Wellington Street, Marie Eye from Quebec was at a long table chopping onions for soup.

“I’m cooking for everybody. We are all in this together, and we’re all Canadians, and we all need to eat, and we all need to breathe, and we all need to live,” she said.

“I came from the first morning, and

The Lead Canada

it kind of evolved; now, I have this nice little soup project.

“I never liked making soup so much.

It just brings people together.”

She said it was “just like a magic potion.”

On Feb. 14, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino linked an alleged seizure of weapons in Alberta by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers to the Freedom Convoy. However, a street captain representing a number of truckers on Wellington Street rejected the minister’s claims.

“That sounds like fearmongering and that the government is getting really desperate to discredit us,” David Paisley said.

“We’ve been very peaceful and are cooperating with the city.

“The government is starting to play dirty.”

He said that nobody in the protesting groups wanted violence.

“If I knew of it, I would be shouting it from the rooftops. We’d be the first to deal with it,” he said.

Among the protest community of

truckers and their supporters who converged on the downtown area of Ottawa, organizers were known as freedom leaders.

One such freedom leader was Benita Pedersen—a seemingly always smiling, cheery woman who saw using her organizational skills as her calling.

Pedersen, of Westlock, Alberta, told Insight that she became involved with the Freedom Movement in February 2021.

“I said to our Lord, ‘Your will, not mine.’ And I surrendered,” she said.

“What happened then ... basically, something came over me, telling me I had to do everything I can to help the Freedom Movement.”

Pedersen said she used every skill she had ever developed—“as a DJ, karaoke hostess, workshop facilitator, and presenter”—to organize rallies.

“There are a number of goals,” she said. “And some of those goals have already been reached. One of them is the uniting of the people, and that has already happened.

“We have people from coast to coast—

we have Americans, people from Mexico supporting what is happening here.

“It’s happening all over the world: Australia, Great Britain.”

Pedersen said that ending the mandates isn’t enough.

“We actually have to go beyond that, and there has to be some sort of transformation in governance, not just in Canada, but in other areas as well. And that transformation needs to happen in such a way we truly have governance for the people, by the people, and not what we have now.

“Because what we have right now is some form of dictatorship, because our elected representatives are not listening to the people.”

Pedersen led “Jericho Walks” around the city’s parliamentary precinct for seven days to knock down the walls around the minds of politicians. At the end of each circuit, many followers blew horns.

“The horns are the sound of hope and represent freedom,” Pedersen said, “and your own strength. It is a way of making your voice heard.”

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 37

38 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

What Happened in Ukraine Before Trump Impeachment State Department email details alleged $7 million bribe from Burisma to Ukrainian prosecutor’s office

By Jeff Carlson & Hans Mahncke

N E W S A NA LY S I S

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 2, 2019.

PHOTO BY SEAN GALLUP/GETTY IMAGES

2016 state department email obtained by Just the News confirms that the U.S. government was provided information by a Ukrainian source saying that Burisma—the Ukrainian energy firm that gave Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden a lucrative position on its board—allegedly paid a $7 million bribe to the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office.

The author of the newly released email, State Department official George Kent, testified at then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 impeachment trial, but never mentioned or disclosed the explosive information from his November 2016 email.

The email, which was alluded to in a Sept. 18, 2020, Senate Homeland Security report, but hadn’t been publicly released until earlier this month, states that Kent, who was the deputy chief of mission in Kyiv, Ukraine, at the time, had been told by Ukraine’s deputy prosecutor general that Burisma had paid a $7 million bribe to end a 2014 corruption investigation into the company.

Kent’s email, which was addressed to Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jorgan Andrews, also contained warnings from Kent that Hunter Biden’s role at Burisma, which took place while his father served as vice president in the Obama administration, was directly undermining U.S. gov-

ernment efforts to tackle corruption in Ukraine.

According to Kent, “Hunter’s presence on the Burisma board undercut the anti-corruption message” from Washington. Kent noted that “Ukrainians heard one message from us,” but saw the Biden family’s “association with a known corrupt figure whose company was known for not playing by the rules.”

Hunter Biden Joins Burisma The circumstances that led to the events described in Kent’s email began in early 2014, when Victoria Nuland, the assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs in the Obama State Department, had a conversation with then-U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, which was intercepted and leaked to the BBC. In the call, Nuland, who’s now President Joe Biden’s undersecretary of state for political affairs, and Pyatt appeared to be discussing the ouster of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the installation of opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk as prime minister.

During their conversation, Nuland noted that then-national security adviser Jake Sullivan had informed her that “you need Biden,” and she concluded by telling Pyatt that “Biden’s willing.”

Biden was appointed as the Obama administration’s point man on Ukraine in February 2014.

On Feb. 22, 2014, Yanukovych was removed I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 39

International Ukraine Bribe

though, for unstated reasons, Burisma didn’t announce his appointment until May 12, 2014.

Notably, Burisma’s statement on Hunter Biden’s appointment, which has since been deleted from the company’s website, said that he had also been appointed head of Burisma’s legal unit.

The alleged $7 million bribe was paid while Biden was in charge of the company’s legal affairs.

Hunter Biden’s Appointment Coincides With Burisma Probes

40 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

(Top) Former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin was fired in March 2016, after Vice President Joe Biden leveraged U.S. taxpayer loan guarantees to force his removal.

(Above) Hunter Biden (C) and Barbara Bush arrive at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021.

New Prosecutor Lauded by US Officials, Later Vilified by Joe Biden Yarema’s replacement, Victor Shokin, a former prosecutor brought out of retirement by Poroshenko, was appointed the following day, Feb. 10, 2015. Initially, Shokin’s appointment was welcomed by U.S. officials.

Nuland personally wrote Shokin in June 2015, telling him that “we have been impressed with the ambitious reform and anti-corruption agenda of your government.” That letter was delivered to Shokin by Pyatt on Nuland’s orders.

Nuland also said ongoing reforms from Shokin demonstrated his ability to “investigate and prosecute corruption and other crimes in an effective, fair, and transparent manner.”

Shokin’s credibility was highlighted again in a September 2015 speech by Pyatt when he

FROM TOP: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES

as president of Ukraine and, three days later, Yatsenyuk, the candidate favored by Nuland, was installed as prime minister.

The Bidens’ involvement with Burisma may have begun on April 16, 2014, when Joe Biden met at the White House with Hunter Biden’s business partner, Devon Archer. It isn’t known what was discussed at that meeting, but on April 21, 2014, Joe Biden traveled to Ukraine, offering not only his political support, but also $50 million in aid for Yatsenyuk’s shaky new government. Following Biden’s visit, Petro Poroshenko, a billionaire politician, was elected as president of Ukraine on May 25, 2014.

Biden became close with both men and later helped Ukraine to obtain a four-year, $17.5 billion International Monetary Fund package in March 2015.

During Biden’s Ukraine visit, on April 22, 2014, it was announced that Archer had joined the board of Burisma. Hunter Biden also joined Burisma’s board sometime that month, al-

The timing of Hunter Biden’s appointment to the Burisma board doesn’t appear to be accidental.

Burisma is owned by Ukraine’s former minister of ecology, Nikolai Zlochevsky (also known as Mykola Zlochevsky). Zlochevsky had reportedly been issued an unusually large number of permits in Ukraine to extract oil and gas, “many of which he appeared to have received during his time as minister.”

In April 2014, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office opened an investigation into Burisma after UK authorities had frozen $23.5 million in assets belonging to Zlochevsky as part of a money-laundering investigation.

It was at this same time that Burisma suddenly appointed Archer and Hunter Biden to Burisma’s board.

According to Kent, after the alleged $7 million bribe was paid, the Ukrainian chief prosecutor, Vitaly Yarema, suddenly issued a letter to the London court in December 2014, stating that “there was no active case open on Zlochevsky.” The frozen assets were then released to Zlochevsky.

Yarema resigned on Feb. 9, 2015. It was reported at the time that Yarema’s resignation came after mounting pressure over his failure to prosecute any officials in the deposed Yanukovych administration.

International Ukraine Bribe

stated that “we want to work with Prosecutor General Shokin” because Shokin was “leading the fight against corruption” in Ukraine. Pyatt also said the $23 million in frozen Burisma assets—which were returned to Burisma owner Zlochevsky through the actions of Shokin’s predecessor—were “illicit” and “belonged to the Ukrainian people.”

Pyatt followed his speech with an October 2015 Twitter post about tackling corruption in Ukraine together with Shokin.

However, the accolades and support for Shokin from U.S. officials changed very quickly after Hunter Biden received an email from Vadym Pozharskyi, the head of Burisma’s board, on Nov. 2, 2015. Pozharskyi demanded that Biden produce “deliverables,” stating that the “ultimate purpose” was to “close down any cases or pursuits” against Burisma owner Zlochevsky in Ukraine.

Notably, Pozharskyi had “spent some time” with Joe Biden in Washington earlier in 2015.

Pozharskyi’s target appeared to be Shokin, who had reopened the investigation into Zlochevsky that had been shut down by his predecessor. Shokin had also successfully sought an order from Ukrainian courts to seize Zlochevsky’s assets. Those assets were eventually seized on Feb. 2, 2016.

On the same day that Pozharskyi emailed Hunter Biden about deliverables, Biden reached out to Amos Hochstein, Obama’s special envoy and coordinator of international energy affairs.

Biden then met with Hochstein four days later on Nov. 6, 2015. The timing of Biden’s outreach, occurring within hours of receiving Pozharskyi’s instructions, is notable. Hochstein later told congressional investigators that Biden “wanted to know my views on Burisma and Zlochevsky.”

Nuland later told congressional investigators that Hochstein personally conveyed his concerns about Hunter Biden’s role at Burisma to Joe Biden during a flight to Ukraine on Dec. 7, 2015.

Two weeks prior to Joe Biden’s trip to Ukraine— and less than three weeks after Hunter Biden had been advised that the cases against Zlochevsky needed to be wound down—Joe Biden specifically demanded the removal of Shokin for the first time on Nov. 22, 2015.

It appears that initially, Poroshenko pushed back against the demand, and Shokin wasn’t fired during Joe Biden’s December 2015 visit to Ukraine. But on Jan. 21, 2016, Biden met personally with Poroshenko in Washington. According to a readout of the meeting, the two men discussed “the need to continue to move forward on Ukraine’s anti-corruption agenda.”

Shokin was ultimately fired in March 2016, but only after Joe Biden leveraged U.S. taxpayer loan

guarantees to force Shokin’s removal.

Biden famously bragged about this incident at the Jan. 23, 2018, Council on Foreign Relations conference. In recounting the story during an interview with The Atlantic, Biden recalled saying: “Petro, you’re not getting your billion dollars.

It’s OK, you can keep the [prosecutor] general.

Just understand—we’re not paying if you do.”

Pressure Brought Against Subsequent Ukrainian Prosecutors Immediately after Shokin was fired in March 2016, his interim successor, Yuriy Sevruk, was approached by Blue Star Strategies, a Washington-based political consultancy firm headed by Bill Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Karen Tramontano. At Hunter Biden’s urging, Burisma had formally hired Blue Star in November 2015—shortly after Biden was instructed to help shut down cases against Zlochevsky.

Blue Star joined forces with John Buretta, a New York-based attorney and former senior Obama Justice Department official. According to Kent’s recently disclosed email, a Blue Star official had told him that Blue Star “did not represent Nikolai’s interests in the U.S., since he had retained separate legal counsel.”

On the same day that Shokin’s firing was announced, March 29, 2016, Buretta unsuccessfully tried to contact Sevruk, the interim prosecutor who had temporarily replaced Shokin, the Hill reported.

According to The Hill, Blue Star’s outreach to Sevruk continued with the tasking of a staff member at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, Andrii Telizhenko, to arrange a meeting with Sevruk. That meeting took place in Ukraine only a week later, on April 6, 2017. Both Buretta and Tramontano personally flew to Ukraine to speak with the interim prosecutor.

Shortly after this meeting, Sevruk was replaced

by Yuriy Lutsenko as Ukraine’s new prosecutor general. Joe Biden would later claim that Lutsenko was “solid.”

Buretta subsequently met with Lutsenko several times and conveyed that there had been “no evidence of wrongdoing” by Burisma and its owner, Zlochevsky. At least one meeting with Lutsenko was attended by Tramontano. That meeting, which had also been arranged by Telizhenko, took place in June 2016.

Around this same time, Joe Biden met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman on June 15, 2016, and announced plans to commit an additional $220 million to Ukraine that year.

Hunter Biden’s Work Finished Following these events, the investigations into Burisma and Zlochevsky were wound down

In April 2014, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office opened an investigation into Burisma after UK authorities had frozen $23.5 million in assets.

1

$

MILLION HUNTER BIDEN WAS

receiving $83,333 a month—or $1 million annually— from Burisma while his father was vice president, from 2014 to 2017.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 41

International Ukraine Bribe

over the course of the next few months and in mid-January 2017, Burisma announced that all legal proceedings against the company and Zlochevsky had been closed.

Shortly after the Burisma investigations were closed, and just days before he left the vice president’s office, Joe Biden again flew to Ukraine, his sixth trip to the country in three years.

It had taken the alleged bribing of one Ukrainian prosecutor; the firing of his replacement, Shokin; and urgent meetings with an interim prosecutor, followed by intense pressure on a fourth prosecutor, but ultimately, the Burisma investigations were finally closed.

According to the New York Post, Hunter Biden had been receiving $83,333 per month—or $1 million annually—from Burisma while his father was vice president. Those payments ran from the spring of 2014 through March 2017. But they were suddenly cut in half in March 2017, after President Donald Trump was inaugurated and Joe Biden no longer held a political position within the U.S. government.

In an email sent from Pozharskyi, Hunter Biden was asked to sign a new director’s agreement. According to the email, the only thing being “amended is the compensation rate.”

Pozharskyi told Biden, in contrast to the earlier public statement from Burisma’s spokesman, that despite the 50 percent cut in pay, Biden’s “remuneration is still the highest in the company and higher than the standard director’s monthly fees.”

Crucial Evidence Withheld From Trump’s Impeachment Defense, Electorate

42 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

If George Kent’s email had been released during Trump’s impeachment hearings, it would have significantly strengthened Trump’s defense.

THIS PAGE: ERIN SCHAFF - POOL/GETTY IMAGES

Had Kent’s email been released during Trump’s impeachment hearings, it would have been publicly known that the initial investigations into Hunter Biden’s employer, Burisma, were terminated when the original prosecutor was bribed. Furthermore, we would have known that the bribe took place while Biden was in charge of the company’s legal affairs. That would have significantly strengthened Trump’s argument that Biden was implicated in corruption and that Joe Biden had pressured Ukraine into firing Shokin because the new prosecutor had reopened those same investigations into Burisma.

But evidence regarding the alleged bribing of Ukrainian prosecutor Yarema was withheld from Trump’s impeachment team in early 2020 and the evidence went wasn’t presented during the hearings.

Equally important, the larger surrounding events were later suppressed by the corporate

media during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Although the email from Kent wasn’t known at the time of Trump’s impeachment hearings, the damning November 2015 email from Burisma’s Pozharskyi directing Hunter Biden to close down any cases against Burisma was released in October 2020, three weeks before the election.

When a few select media outlets reported on that email and related matters, including Joe Biden’s false claims that he knew nothing about Hunter Biden’s business dealings, the story was aggressively suppressed and discounted by other media outlets, as well as social media platforms, which censored any mention of the story.

There were also significant efforts from the intelligence community to publicly discredit the story, including an attempt to blame the story on a Russian disinformation campaign.

Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray also stayed quiet in the key months before the 2020 presidential election, even though the FBI had taken possession of Hunter Biden’s laptop containing many of these emails in December 2019.

After the 2020 election had concluded, Hunter Biden suddenly released a statement acknowledging that he was under federal investigation for his “tax affairs.” Notably, the actual investigation was even broader than his statement had indicated, as investigators were also “probing potential money laundering and Hunter Biden’s foreign ties.”

The media blackout on the Biden story had material ramifications for the outcome of the presidential election. A late 2020 poll showed that 45 percent of Joe Biden voters were completely unaware of the many allegations against Hunter and Joe Biden.

P OL I T IC S • E C ONOM Y • OPI N ION T H AT M AT T E R S

Perspectives

No.08

The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve building in Washington on Jan. 25.

PHOTO BY STEFANI REYNOLDS/ AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

NO FED RESCUE

VIRTUAL WORLD FRENZY

The Federal Reserve won’t be saving the Democrats. 44

Large companies are starting to protect their brands in the metaverse. 47

COST OF RUSSIA SANCTIONS The economic cost of a conflict is high for Russia and the EU. 48

INSIDE I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 43

THOMAS MCARDLE was a White House speechwriter for President George W. Bush and writes for IssuesInsights.com.

Thomas McArdle

No Fed Rescue

The Federal Reserve will not be saving the Democrats

sked on feb. 11 by nbc’s Lester Holt about the nation’s worst-in-40-years 7.5 percent consumer inflation, President Joe Biden claimed, “The reason for the inflation is the supply chains were cut off, meaning that the products, for example, automobiles—the lack of computer chips to be able to build those automobiles so they could function; they need those computer chips.

They were not available.”

And one of Biden’s most oft-repeated talking points on inflation is that “17 Nobel laureate” economists “have written a letter affirming that” his Build Back Better multitrillion-dollar spending extravaganza “will reduce inflationary pressure in the economy.”

To the contrary, one of the letter’s signatories, Harvard economics and mathematics professor Eric Maskin, warned that Biden’s spending proposals would only “have the potential to reduce inflationary pressure in the longer term because they should expand productive capacity and therefore supply,” but that “it is much harder to say what their effect on inflation might be in the short to medium term.”

Unsurprisingly, the president is also taking the opportunity, irresistible to the left, to blame the private sector for inflation, in particular the fossil fuel industry. In November 2021, he wrote Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan to claim “mounting evidence of anti-consumer behavior by oil-and-gas companies”—a calculated distraction from his policies that make oil and gas more costly by restricting, or adding to the expense of, the production of fossil energy within the United States.

It wasn’t long before left-leaning Harvard economist, Clinton Treasury secretary, and Obama National 44 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Economic Council chief Lawrence Summers poked Biden with the pointed tweet that “the emerging claim that antitrust can combat inflation reflects ‘science denial,’ and added that “there are many areas like transitory inflation where serious economists differ.

Antitrust as an anti-inflation strategy is not one of them.”

The president is taking the opportunity, irresistible to the left, to blame the private sector—in particular, the fossil fuel industry—for inflation.

On Feb. 17, an even more noxious skunk crashed the White House’s garden party. High-ranking Obama Treasury Department official Steven Rattner penned an op-ed in The New York Times accusing Biden of deceit with regard to inflation. The president’s contentions were “simplistic and misleading,” Rattner wrote, supply chain issues being “by no means the root cause of our inflation.”

According to Rattner, “most of our supply problems have been homegrown: Americans have resumed spending freely, and along the way, they have been creating shortages akin to those in a shopping mall on Black Friday.” That increased spending is the consequence of “vast amounts of government rescue aid.”

But cock an ear in the White House briefing room and you’ll hear press secretary Jen Psaki blaming, naturally, Republicans in the Senate, some of whom are balking at confirming Biden’s nominees to the Federal Reserve Board. Psaki marveled at the wizardry the Fed can perform.

“It’s never been more important to have confirmed leadership at the Fed

to help continue our recovery and fight inflation. And, obviously, they have a unique role to play, an important—a vital role to play as it relates to inflation.”

Biden’s Fed nominees Lisa Cook, Philip Jefferson, and Sarah Bloom Raskin claim that fighting inflation will be their top priority if confirmed, alongside current Fed Governor Lael Brainard being elevated to the vicechair slot. But Raskin is the wife of Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland Democrat who was the lead manager of Trump’s second impeachment last year; she has devoted most of her energies to promoting green energy and harassing oil and gas interests, while Cook and Jefferson’s priorities have to date revolved around “wokeness” and race.

Dartmouth monetary economics professor Andrew Levin, who has advised the Fed for many years as well as numerous foreign central banks, told the prestigious Shadow Open Market Committee on Feb. 11 what kind of dramatic tightening in Fed policy it would take to make a real dent in inflation, and it’s clear that such drastic action can never be expected from Biden’s appointees.

“Price stability cannot be achieved by following an ad hoc ‘meeting-by-meeting’ approach to Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decisions and communications,” Levin warned. “The FOMC needs to move promptly to a neutral stance to ensure that it doesn’t keep adding fuel to the inflationary inferno.” Over the next year, reaching such a stance would “almost surely involve raising the federal funds rate” (the short-term interest rate banks charge in loaning money to each other) “to 4% or 5%, and perhaps even further.”

So it will not be the Federal Reserve that comes over the hill in the nick of time to save Democrats from their lies and their extreme policies this November.

ANDERS CORR is a principal at Corr Analytics Inc., publisher of the Journal of Political Risk. He is an expert in political science and government.

Anders Corr

Hate Crime Against Falun Gong Thug charged with hate crime allegedly linked to CCP

e all know about hate crimes, perpetrated by racists and bigots against, for example, ethnic and religious groups. They include anti-Asian hate, slurs against African Americans, and attacks on Jewish synagogues.

But some hate crimes get less coverage in the mainstream press, such as those against adherents of Falun Gong, a spiritual meditation discipline. In the most recent alleged attacks, a man was caught on camera apparently vandalizing Falun Gong information booths on the streets of New York. Police arrested the man, Zheng Buqiu, and charged him with a hate crime.

Zheng isn’t the first. In 2008, charges for hate crimes against Falun Gong were filed in Brooklyn, and more crimes were alleged in 2012 in San Francisco.

The victims were promoting the principles of “truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance,” and for that “crime” were hounded out of China, or into hiding, much as Protestants in the 17th century fled religious persecution in England.

The recent alleged hate crimes occurred in the Chinatown area of Flushing, near a public library, the U.S. Post Office, and the Bank of China.

Flushing is a neighborhood within Queens, a borough of New York. The reporting indicates that the suspect has a mediate link to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which should be considered a form of terrorist or organized crime group.

The CCP frequently uses gangs to do its dirty work in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Canada, for example. New York can now be added to the list as another example in which a street thug allegedly had links to the CCP. The suspect allegedly punched, kneed, stomped, toppled, tore, and

scattered Falun Gong information tables and their contents, including leaflets, a loudspeaker, frames, a banner, and posters. The written material elucidated the spirituality of Falun Gong, as well as its persecution under the CCP. In a summary of a video taken at the scene, it’s written that the suspect allegedly used a “knife or a lighter” during an apparent attempt to carry off some of the display materials.

The CCP’s attacks on Falun Gong are an example of its transnational repression and power projection.

Frank Yue wrote in Insight that the incidents are “believed to have been orchestrated by the CCP in a bid to intimidate adherents of the practice.”

A volunteer at the booth, Xu Weiguo, described the man as looking “gangster-like,” according to the report. He wore all black clothing, including a black baseball cap, and had full-sleeve tattoos. After being confronted by a passerby at one incident, the man walked away only to return with his chest partly bared, revealing a large tattoo of a dragon that apparently extended from his chest over his shoulder.

A Canadian law enforcement tattoo handbook has seven examples of “Asian Gang Tattoos,” three of which are over-the-shoulder dragons similar to the one adorning Zheng.

New York since the 1970s has been the scene of gang wars, including those fought by the Chinese Flying Dragon gang in Flushing.

Yi Rong, president of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, condemned the “CCP thugs for the malicious attack,” calling it a hate crime.

After the Feb. 10 attack, according to a volunteer named Lily Wang, the

suspect made a gesture of victory across the street to “a leader of a local CCP front group, who has a history [including a conviction for assault] of harassing Falun Gong practitioners and spreading hate propaganda against the faith group,” according to Yue. The alleged front group leader, Li Huahong, then taunted the practitioners, saying, “Go to the police! Why not?” according to the volunteer.

The attacks on Falun Gong are an example of the CCP’s transnational repression and power projection.

According to documents assembled

by Yiyang Xia at the Human Rights Law Foundation, the CCP sees its “struggle” against Falun Gong and “other cult organizations” (by which the CCP could mean any religion, including Christianity, Islam, Tibetan Buddhism, or Taoism) as a “political contest” to protect the CCP’s “leadership and the socialist system” from “anti-China forces in the West.”

The CCP seeks to “blacklist” practitioners and obtain “overseas ... action-oriented intelligence information” to “make overseas anti-cult struggles more and more active” for the “targeted education, persuasion, restraint, and disintegration” of Falun Gong.

This CCP “struggle” in Flushing extends back more than a decade.

According to Yue, the Chinese ambassador in New York admitted in an undercover phone call in 2008 to “instigating pro-CCP groups to launch a series of assaults on Falun Gong adherents in the area.”

In accord with America’s freedom of speech and religion, we must do more to protect the persecuted Falun Gong practitioners, who are working to save America from the CCP’s hegemonic and totalitarian ambitions.

That should start with a thorough investigation and airing of any links between the CCP and criminals in New York.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 45

MILTON EZRATI is chief economist for Vested, a contributing editor at The National Interest, and author of "Thirty Tomorrows" and "Bite-Sized Investing.”

Milton Ezrati

What the IPO Surge Reveals

The record-breaking surge in IPOs carries mixed signals

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.s. finance has seen a powerful march to market. Initial public offerings (IPOs) of formerly private firms surged in 2021 and show signs of sustaining that trend into 2022.

Of course, each firm makes its own decisions about its unique circumstances and products, but the broad picture carries two clear—but seemingly contradictory—signals.

On one side, the overwhelming number of IPOs speaks to business optimism about economic activity and future profits.

On the other side, this IPO surge hints at a belief among management teams that stocks today are pricey enough to give listing companies more for their shares than an internal assessment might put their worth. Certainly, firms wouldn’t readily list if they thought the reverse were true.

It’s remarkable in many ways that after the economic harm caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantines, many IPOs have come to the market. More than 1,000 companies listed on public exchanges in 2021, more than twice the number that did so in 2020. Almost 400 of these new listings occurred through conventional IPOs. Those listings raised more than $153 billion in new equity capital, making 2021 the biggest year since 2000.

IPOs through special purpose acquisition companies (SPACS) numbered 613, more than twice the 248 counted in 2020, according to accounting done by SPAC Research.

Though no authoritative data exist yet for 2022, an informal count among financial people reveals at least 100 companies that have either announced their intention to float a conventional IPO or have indicated an interest in doing so.

46 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

There’s little sense of how many more SPAC IPOs are in the pipeline thus far.

There can be no mistaking that all of this activity is a positive judgement on the future. Management teams raise money in this way because they think the funds can be deployed well in a future profitable expansion.

They certainly don’t raise capital on such a grand scale to let it sit idle, especially with inflation now eroding the real value of money at more than 7 percent per year.

And with interest rates and bond yields as low as they still are, nor are management teams likely to raise equity capital to put it into accounts or store it in fixed-income investments.

More than 1,000 companies listed on public exchanges last year, more than twice the number that did so in 2020.

Of course, each firm makes its own decisions about its particular products and in its own market niche. Any single firm’s IPO decision could say nothing about general business directions or prospects.

But taken across all of this IPO activity, the outpouring suggests the kind of general confidence that brings real investment and drives the overall level of economic activity upward.

On a less positive note is the valuation question. If the listing decision reflects a long-term assessment of opportunities for deploying equity capital, the IPO’s timing can reflect an assessment of market valuations. If man-

agement teams determine that market prices are high—higher perhaps than fundamental assessments of the company’s value— they’ll see an opportunity to raise more than they otherwise could and rush the IPO. If enough companies make the same assessments, they’ll crowd a year with IPOs, as they did in 2021 was and seem to be doing in 2022.

It’s only a judgment, of course, but the 2022 outpouring does show an implicit vote by diverse management teams that stock market prices might have risen above levels that a more hard-headed assessment of reality could support.

Such valuation judgments may have missed some considerations.

It could be that the relative valuations only apply to the listing companies and perhaps those in similar lines of business.

Perhaps those taking the view that market valuations are high have failed to consider certain macro considerations, such as the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to pull back quickly on monetary easing rapidly, despite the intense inflationary pressure facing the country. None of this means that a market correction is imminent.

Nevertheless, it’s one more consideration for any investor in assessing whether the rally can continue unabated.

There are no assurances on which signal carries greater weight. There never are. What the IPO flood reveals is that a large and diverse group of presumably savvy businesspeople see a bright economic future and a market that might be pricing itself for something even brighter than the reality they see.

It’s a view that investors need to consider and one to which the flood of IPOs has called attention.

EMEL AKAN is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times in Washington, D.C. Previously she worked in the financial sector as an investment banker at JPMorgan.

Emel Akan

Virtual World Frenzy

COURTESY OF EXP REALTY

Large companies are starting to protect their brands in the metaverse

n increasing number of large companies are filing trademark applications to protect their brands in the metaverse. They’re also looking to make money in this new realm by offering virtual goods and services.

Victoria’s Secret, New York Stock Exchange, and McDonald’s are among the latest corporations to announce plans to join the metaverse.

Nowadays, the metaverse is considered to be the next big thing. However, skeptics believe that it’s a technological bubble that’s starting to look like the dot-com boom of the late 1990s.

The metaverse creates a three-dimensional world that can be used for every kind of activity imaginable. It’s being called the next generation of the internet. People can work, play, shop, and socialize from anywhere using a virtual reality headset.

People will be soon ordering a Big Mac from a virtual McDonald’s in the metaverse. On Feb. 4, the fast-food giant filed 10 new trademark applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its McDonald’s and McCafe brands.

The company intends to operate a virtual restaurant, offering both “actual and virtual goods.” Other food chains that have joined the metaverse include Chipotle and Panera.

The metaverse has also become attractive for designers and fashion brands such as Victoria’s Secret.

The renowned lingerie retailer filed four new trademark applications on Feb. 8, intending to sell “virtual undergarments, footwear, and fashion accessories.”

Other fashion brands, such as Ralph Lauren and Gucci, are racing to cash in on the metaverse frenzy, especially by targeting young people.

Shoppers can purchase virtual apparel from Ralph Lauren to dress

People soon will be ordering a Big Mac from a virtual McDonald’s in the metaverse. their avatars on the metaverse platform Zepeto or gaming site Roblox.

And Gucci even purchased virtual land on The Sandbox to expand its presence in the metaverse.

Real estate sales are booming in the metaverse as well. Virtual properties on the four major metaverse platforms—Sandbox, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels, and Somnium— topped $500 million in 2021 and could double in 2022, according to a CNBC report.

Big tech companies are also pouring billions of dollars into this space. In October 2021, the tech giant Facebook officially changed its name to Meta and unveiled a series of new moves to build the metaverse.

Facebook’s announcement has been “a huge game-changer,” according to Siddartha Rao, a commercial litigation, virtual currency, and technology attorney at Romano Law based in New York.

“That’s a huge impetus because what Facebook can do, just with its size and footprint, is invest in the

infrastructure that’s needed for metaverse activity to become more ubiquitous,” he told Insight.

Rao believes that this is one of the reasons why trademark applications have accelerated in recent months.

Being a brand in the metaverse has become a much bigger deal.

Interest in the metaverse also surged because of the widespread acceptance and use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which create the ability to authenticate digital assets, according to Rao. NFTs are unique digital assets built on blockchain technology. With NFTs, people can prove the authenticity of virtual goods in the metaverse.

“NFT basically solves the piracy problem for digital assets,” Rao said.

“What NFTs do is create the ability to put unique signatures on digital assets so that they are no longer pirate-able. This facilitates a marketplace. And once you facilitate a marketplace, it becomes more valuable to have a trademark.”

Other well-known companies that have recently filed trademark applications to protect their brands in the metaverse include Walmart, Nike, Gap, Sketchers, and Crocs.

Every year, $54 billion is spent on virtual goods, according to a recent report by JPMorgan.

JPMorgan is the first Wall Street bank to enter the metaverse. On Feb. 15, the investment bank announced the opening of a “lounge” in Decentraland, a browser-based metaverse, according to a Bloomberg report.

In the virtual lounge, visitors are greeted by a portrait of bank CEO Jamie Dimon and a roaming tiger.

The JPMorgan report states that “the metaverse will likely infiltrate every sector in some way in the coming years, with the market opportunity estimated at over $1 trillion in yearly revenues.”

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 47

DANIEL LACALLE is chief economist at hedge fund Tressis and author of “Freedom or Equality,” “Escape from the Central Bank Trap,” and “Life in the Financial Markets.”

Daniel Lacalle

Cost of Russia Sanctions

The economic cost of conflict is high for Russia, EU

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48 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Tensions in Ukraine are showing the widening differences between Western countries and the Russia–Chinainfluenced nations.

Russia is a relevant global player in the export of metals and agricultural and energy goods, and sanctions affect the marginal pricing in global markets.

The European Union (EU) has far more to lose than the United States from a conflict with Russia. According to Eurostat, Russia is the fifth-largest trade partner of the EU, with imports of $177.9 billion and exports of $104.1 billion. Additionally, reliance on Russian natural gas is high, particularly in countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic. Eleven EU countries import more than 50 percent of their natural gas requirements from Russia. For many, it would be impossible to offset the flow of Russian gas with liquefied natural gas, even using trucks if they were willing to accept prohibitive prices.

The impact on Ukraine is enormous. In “The Economic Effect of Hybrid Wars,” a study by Julia

Bluszcz and Marica Valente, they show that “causal effects are estimated by computing the yearly difference in GDP per capita between Ukraine and its synthetic counterpart after the eruption of the war. ...

Results indicate that Ukraine’s foregone GDP per capita due to the Donbass war amounts to 15.1% on average in years 20132017” and, “respectively, 5.23% ($460.26), 9.18% ($832.96), 19.63% ($1,823.78), 19.80% ($1,893.38), 21.67% ($2,184.13) in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.”

There’s also an indirect impact on the global economy. Rising tensions in Ukraine are showing the widening differences between Western countries and the Russia–China-influenced nations.

This is more than just about Ukraine or natural gas flows. The West is losing influence in Africa and Latin America in favor of China and, to a lesser extent, Russia.

Latin America is slowly shifting toward China and Russia, as evidenced by the messages of the president of Argentina and the newly appointed Chilean prime minister.

The impact of geopolitical risk has made energy and food prices soar higher all over the world.

The increase in essential goods prices comes after a terrible year for global real wages, eroded by central bank-fueled inflation.

The Ukraine crisis also arrives in the middle of an evident slowdown of the largest economies after the placebo effect of massive stimulus plans. These risks add to a scenario in which many economies are moving even closer to stagflation, and the ramifications will likely last longer than the conflict itself.

CARSTEN KOALL/GETTY IMAGES

h e e s c a l at io n of tensions in Ukraine has reminded us of something many investors seemed to have forgotten: geopolitical risk. Sanctions and the inevitable drop in trade have proven to generate a significant negative impact on the different economies involved. We know from the 2014 Ukraine crisis that the economic hit is severe and persistent.

The economic hit of sanctions is undoubtedly highest for Russia.

As the New Atlanticist reports: “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated in 2015 that Western sanctions and Russian countersanctions reduced Russian real gross domestic product (GDP) initially by 1–1.5% and that prolonged sanctions would lead to an even larger cumulative output loss. In 2019, the IMF estimated that sanctions reduced Russia’s growth rate by 0.2 percentage points every year in 2014–2018.”

The effect on Russian citizens is wide-ranging, even when the sanctions are targeted at individuals and state banks. The most obvious impact is the loss of purchasing power of the local currency, which has plummeted against the U.S. dollar, which reduces salaries and savings in real terms.

The United States doesn’t sustain a relevant direct impact from sanctions on Russia.

It imported around $30 billion from Russia in 2021 and exported $6.4 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, it does face indirect implications, as consumer prices soar due to rising energy and food prices.

Fan Yu

FAN YU is an expert in finance and economics and has contributed analyses on China’s economy since 2015.

China to Boost Real Estate

JOHANNES EISELE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Woes deepen for property developers and local government budgets

s china’s real estate sector woes deepen, hitting developers and local budgets, policy support from Beijing is on its way.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has mobilized its so-called national asset managers to support its tottering real estate developers and avert a fullon property market collapse.

The asset management companies, which include China Huarong Asset Management, China Cinda Asset Management, China Great Wall Asset Management, and China Orient Asset Management, were originally set up in the 1990s after the Asian financial crisis in order to buy bad loans from Chinese commercial banks’ balance sheets.

More recently, Bloomberg reported that these asset managers were told by the CCP to actively participate in the restructuring of real estate developers that need funding and to acquire loans and projects from developers to free up cash and avoid further defaults.

Huarong had been mired in its own crisis until recently. After years of making questionable acquisitions, Huarong’s former Chairman Lai Xiaomin was executed in January 2021 for various malfeasance, including bribery.

What’s interesting is that while regulators have urged the managers to engage developers on an arms-length basis and to comply with financial risk management, apparently making a “profit” on the real estate deals is of secondary concern, according to the report.

Separately, China’s Cailian news agency revealed in February that many central state-owned enterprises (SOE) are scouring for deals, from negotiating real estate project acquisitions to mergers and acquisitions with developers. Thus far, the SOEs have been averse to taking on too much risk—not many deals have been

The engagement by bad debt managers and other state-owned enterprises suggests that the industry is in an even weaker position than originally thought. announced—but a call from CCP headquarters could speed up the process.

This development suggests that Beijing has been less than impressed with the liquidity management efforts by real estate developers such as Shimao, Evergrande, Sunac, and Country Garden. Developers have been unable to sell properties quickly enough to free up cash to continue funding new projects.

Initial data from January shows that the sales of new homes were anywhere from 10 percent to 80 percent lower than the same month in 2021 for more than a dozen Chinese developers, which were hit by both lower contracts and lower contracted prices.

That puts a tough strain on cash flow, which is required to begin and continue existing projects.

Developers have also been facing a credit crunch. Property developers raised 70 percent less in bond financ-

ing in January compared to January 2021. The offshore dollar-denominated debt market, catering to foreign investors, has been frozen since a slew of defaults in 2021 and downgrades by international credit rating firms.

While Beijing regulators have slowly loosened restrictions on leverage for property developers, the engagement by bad debt managers and other SOEs suggests that the industry is in an even weaker position than originally thought.

Aside from developers and home buyers, local governments have been collateral damage to China’s real estate market issues.

We’ve previously said land sales and land use leases to real estate firms make up a large portion of local government revenues. And initial readings from 2022 could spell trouble for government coffers. Local and regional governments, like property developers, are also hugely indebted and have high debt service costs.

A potential reprieve on the horizon is property taxes, which China has been piloting across several cities. But is it enough? If the newly released plans of Shanghai’s property tax regime are anything to go by, the answer is that it’s unlikely.

Taxes are only levied on properties bought in 2011 or later. For homes purchased after 2011, there’s a 60 square meter (645 square foot) exemption per capita. Then there’s another 30 percent cut on the remaining taxable area. The truly taxable real estate area is then taxed at a 0.6 percent rate on the price paid per square foot.

Perhaps that’s a large sum for a city as densely populated as Shanghai, but it’s hardly a windfall for most municipalities.

Will these efforts be enough to calm the market jitters, or are they merely reordering chairs on the Titanic?

Time will tell.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 49

JEFF MINICK lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. He is the author of two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust on Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning as I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.”

Jeff Minick

Looking for Love

The greatest gift we can give another

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was looking for love in all the wrong places” is a line from country singer Johnny Lee’s 1980 hit “Lookin’ for Love.”

Lots of Americans are apparently looking for love in all the wrong places, or at least are having trouble locating the right places to look for love, and some have given up altogether on the quest for romance and commitment. A pre-COVID 2019 Pew Research Center survey found large numbers of adults reporting that dating has gotten much more difficult. Many of the never-married younger adults claim to lack any experience of a committed relationship, and this same poll found that men and women under age 50 often had higher priorities—usually their jobs or their enjoyment of the single life— than dating and partnership.

Without really touching on them, the Pew Study inadvertently reveals other reasons why dating and relationships may have become more troubled these days.

To build a romantic relationship— or any relationship—requires time, energy, and work.

Not everyone wants to make those efforts. Several years ago, I met an old friend for supper in a Santa Fe restaurant. She spent most of the meal telling me about her work as a teacher and how she filled her evenings with all sorts of commitments: time at the Y, yoga sessions, a knitting club, book clubs, art classes, and more. She then lamented the lack of a man in her life. When I mentioned online dating sites, she harrumphed and said, “Who’s got time for that?”

Whether she knew it or not, she’d made a choice. She’d opted for activities that fed her pleasure and well-being rather than for relationship.

Which brings us to the next point hidden away in this survey. Many of 50 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Building a romantic relationship—or any relationship—requires time, energy, and work. the men and women seemed to look at dating as a game of getting rather than of giving. There was little to no emphasis in the questions on the gifts they were bringing to the table, what and how they might give of themselves to another. Instead, the poll focused on what they wanted for themselves.

Perhaps the questions pointed them in this direction, but they seemed blind as to what they themselves might bring into a relationship. They’d forgotten, or maybe never knew, that a strong marriage or partnership relies on a servant attitude, the desire and willingness of both parties to sacrifice themselves for the other.

Finally, an ultimate end-game strategy seemed missing in this conception of dating. What were these respondents looking for in a relationship? Someone to fill the empty spac-

es in their lives? A partner to share good times? Or did they hope to marry, settle down together in a home or apartment, and build a family?

It was a little difficult to tell, but the evidence suggests that this last possibility is low on the totem pole of dating.

About a decade ago, I read parts of Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body,” his thoughts on sexuality, the body, human dignity, and the integration of the physical and the spiritual in the human person. Even at the time, I found it ironic that a celibate priest could write more profoundly than anyone I’d ever read about human sexuality and relationship.

One key element in “Theology of the Body” was the idea of love and communion: “the capacity of expressing love, that love in which the person becomes a gift—and by means of this gift—fulfills the meaning of his being and existence.”

When we give someone a gift, we want it to have value and meaning.

When we ourselves are the gift, we should wish that gift to be as splendid and worthy as possible.

Looking for love? Make yourself lovable.

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Visit THEEPOCHTIMES.COM I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 51

Nation Profile

THOUGHT LEADERS

Preparing to Stand for Truth in a Time of Lies Embracing suffering to protect the truth is the secret to resisting totalitarianism

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he key to resilience in the face of persecution is the willingness to suffer,” says Rod Dreher, “not just to bear it stoically, but to find a way to transform it and purify it into something good.”

In this episode of “American Thought Leaders,” host Jan Jekielek speaks about soft totalitarianism, “wokeness,” and ways to resist both with Rod Dreher, author of “Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents.”

JAN JEKIELEK: I’ve been

reading “Live Not by Lies.” I think there are a lot of people who would wonder what you’re talking about.

sounds crazy to Americans to think our liberal democracies could be turning totalitarian.

But whenever I travel to conferences, if I meet someone who has immi52 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Rod Dreher, author and editor.

SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES

ROD DREHER: Well, it

grated to America from a communist country, I ask them, “Do the things you’re seeing today, such as cancel culture and wokeness, remind you of what you left behind?” Every one of them says yes.

And if you talk to them long enough, they get really angry that Americans don’t take these issues seriously.

And now we’re seeing the expansion of this wokeness. It has to do with identity politics, critical race theory, gender theory, all of these things.

It has conquered universities, the media, sports, law, medicine, big business, even the military and the CIA. The government doesn’t have to get involved to enforce wokeness, when you have all the other institutions doing it.

The people who grew up under communism know that when you live in a society where people are afraid to say what they think for fear of losing

Nation Profile

their jobs or being sent to the social margins, it’s totalitarian.

These people are telling us if we don’t wake up to what’s happening, we’re going to lose our freedom.

MR . JEKIELEK: You have

some pretty incredible stories in “Live Not by Lies.”

You open with Father Kolakovic.

today, we’re living in a Kolakovic moment, when anyone who falls into the category of dissident under the soft totalitarian regime is going to be persecuted.

We see parents finally waking up to what’s being done to their children in the schools and pushing back. I hope this happens everywhere. But overall,

side, there’s this assault on the family by these totalitarian ideologies.

the elites in our society are all-in on wokeness.

The old totalitarianism depended on inflicting pain and terror and fear on people to make them conform. That’s not what we’re dealing with now. We’re dealing with a totalitarian state that gets people to conform by making them comfortable.

We’re so afraid to be poor. We’re so afraid to be anxious, to be unhappy.

So many of us will do just about anything to avoid trouble and protect our middle-class comfort.

Arendt, a German Jewish refugee, tried to understand the totalitarianism of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. What aspects of life made these people susceptible to totalitarianism?

Arendt concluded that massive atomization and widespread loneliness helped open these countries to totalitarianism.

Along comes Hitler in Germany and Lenin in Russia to say: “We can provide you with meaning in life.

We can provide you with a sense of purpose and a sense of solidarity.” And people who felt alone and isolated rallied to that.

Well, we have that today, too, here in the West.

Other factors were the loss of institutional authority, religion’s lost authority, everything that had given people meaning in life and a sense of direction. Also, there was a willingness to believe any lie, as long as it conformed to what people wanted to believe in the first place.

We somehow think our wealth and our democratic history are going to protect us from this. But as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said: “People around the world think that what happened in Russia can’t happen here.

In fact, it can happen in any country on earth, under the right set of circumstances.”

MR . JEKIELEK: In your

MR . JEKIELEK: Your book

book, you reference Hannah Arendt’s landmark work, “The Origins of Totalitarianism.”

is named after Solzhenitsyn’s essay, “Live Not by Lies.” And this has made me think a lot about the family, which you focus on in the book as the basic unit of community. And on the flip

secret to resistance, the way you deal with suffering. In Moscow, I interviewed an elderly pastor, a Russian Baptist pastor. At one point he looked at me and said, “You go home to America, and you tell the church

“We’re dealing with a totalitarian state that gets people to conform by making them comfortable.”

MR . DREHER: Father Tomislav Kolakovic is one of the unsung heroes of the Cold War. He understood communist thinking and told his students: “The good news is the Germans are going to lose this war. The bad news is when it’s over, the Soviets are going to be ruling this country. And the first thing they’re going to do is come after the church, so we have to be ready.”

He brought together groups for prayer and study. Most of them were young Catholics with a few priests involved. Soon each town of any size had one of these groups, and they laid the groundwork for the underground church. Father Kolakovic and his followers prepared people for what was to come.

I believe here in the West

MR . DREHER: After the

Second World War, Hannah

MR . DREHER: It’s import-

ant to totalitarian governments that they eliminate the family, the traditional family, as part of eliminating anything that gets between the individual and the state. The traditional family has to be destroyed in order to liberate the individual, which really means liberating the individual for slavery. We see the same thing happening now with the left in our own country.

You have schools in this country taking children and filling their heads with critical race theory, propaganda, and gender ideology.

This is straight out of totalitarian societies, and it’s happening right here.

In “Live Not by Lies,” I talk about The 1619 Project, which tries to reframe the American founding by tainting it with slavery.

It’s an attempt to make an entire generation of young Americans disbelieve in their country’s ideals.

It’s very clear what’s happening. And if we Americans don’t wake up, we’re going to lose our country.

MR . JEKIELEK: In your

book, you talk about the value of suffering.

MR . DREHER: This is the

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 53

Nation Profile

“It’s very clear what’s happening. And if we Americans don’t wake up, we are going to lose our country.” that if they’re not prepared to suffer for the faith, then their faith is worthless.”

This is a man who knew what he was talking about.

And I found this over and over again, that the key to resilience in the face of persecution is the willingness to suffer—not just to bear it stoically, but to find a way to transform it and purify it into something good.

Most of the people in Eastern Europe, I was told, ended up conforming and going along to avoid trou-

ble. Those relative few who had the courage to embrace suffering for the truth were the ones who made it, and they weren’t just Christians. I wrote “Live Not by Lies” as a Christian for Christians, but I’ve been delighted that people who don’t share my faith have found a lot of value in my book because it talks about the importance of being willing to suffer without despairing and to have the courage to stand up.

I believe God has a

purpose for every one of us, even those who don’t believe in him, and that purpose may involve a willingness to accept suffering and not let the suffering destroy us. Instead, we can use it to purify our conscience, become more compassionate, and help other people who are struggling.

MR . JEKIELEK: It’s a

beautiful vision. I’m sure a lot of people are coming to you right now and, having read “Live Not by Lies,” say, “Rod, what can I do?”

MR . DREHER: The most

important thing is to found groups like Kolakovic did. Whether you’re religious or not, you need to form these groups to talk about what’s coming and what you can do.

We can read the stories of heroic men and wom-

en who have resisted totalitarianism and come through with their faith and their integrity intact.

I would also advise people to find those who came to this country to escape communism, to talk to them and make it possible for them to tell their stories.

Finally, I would say to parents: prepare your children. You want them to become young men and women of vision, faith, and courage. Share with them what’s happening. Read them the classics. Help them to understand the virtues in these stories.

If we can resist without losing our faith, our integrity, and our souls, then God can, in some sense, use our sacrifice and our suffering to make the world a better place and inspire people to be brave and compassionate.

54 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

PUBLIC DOMAIN

August Landmesser conspicuously doesn't give the Nazi salute, on June 13, 1936.

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T R AV E L • F O O D • L U X U R Y L I V I N G

Unwind

No.08

The traditions and culture of Mexico are on full display on every street of San Miguel de Allende.

PHOTO BY KOBBY DAGAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Experiencing the True Old Mexico IF YOU WONDER WHAT the nanny is up to while you’re at work, or wish you could see what goes on after dark in your yard, you need this gear. 60

SERVING CLASSIC New Orleans dishes using ingredients sourced within 100 miles of the kitchen, family-owned and -operated Commander’s Palace is a culinary delight. 66

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OWNING THE ROAD wherever they travel, these sleek, luxurious vehicles transport their passengers in total comfort and style. 63

INSIDE I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 55

AN ELEGANT OASIS of Tranquility and Comfort Tucked away in a gated community a stone’s throw from a medieval town, this villa is delights all the senses

By Phil Butler

56 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

The entire villa is a series of spaces situated perfectly for alfresco living. This is a casual haven for entertaining or relaxing at a whim.

Luxury Living Real Estate

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND CARLTON INTERNATIONAL

his 500-square-meter (5,300-square-foot) masterpiece of zen-inspired design is a feast for the eyes. Set in a secluded private community outside the medieval village of Ramatuelle, the villa offers intimate privacy and a sense of endless space simultaneously.

This stunning home sits in the center of a wonderfully landscaped 2,500-square-meter (0.62acre) lot. The property, which lists for 26,000,000 euros ($29.44 million), features six exquisite bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bath, and a free-flowing design that melds space, sumptuous materials, colors, and ambient light to create a sense of continuity.

The interior of the home conveys an unmistakable sense of being outdoors yet sheltered and protected at the same time. The living room’s high ceilings and bay windows connect to myriad alfresco leisure areas. There’s a professionally equipped gourmet kitchen, a separate guest kitchen, a wine cellar, a fitness gym, and a laundry room, all protected by a state-of-the-art security system.

Outside, an inviting heated swimming pool, pool house, and summer kitchen all accentuate the vibrant sculpted setting. Situated only a

stone’s throw away from the fabulous beaches below picturesque Ramatuelle, the private gated neighborhood is secluded but enjoys easy access to the famous coastal enclave known as an “A-list” celebrity haunt. Philip Weiser, founder and CEO of Carlton Group, had this to say about the villa: “This is not just an architectural masterpiece, it is also a stunning home! Difficult to see where the inside ends and the outside begins. This is the ultimate in indoor-outdoor harmony with vast spaces retaining an incontestable intimacy, highlighting the sculptural walls, ceilings, and the outstanding quality of the interior design.

Modern elegance, the security of a private estate, and easy strolling distance from the most famous beaches of the French Riviera.”

Ramatuelle is a quaint commune of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France. The name is from the Arabic Rahmatollah, from the Middle Ages, which means “the mercy of God.” The once-fortified village at the foothills of the Castellas Massif overlooks the marvelous Bay of Pampelonne.

Phil Butler is a publisher, editor, author, and analyst who is a widely cited expert on subjects ranging from digital and social media to travel technology.

RAMATUELLE, FRANCE 26,000,000 EUROS ($29.44 MILLION) • 6 BEDROOMS • PRIVATE COMMUNITY • STUNNING ARCHITECTURE KEY FEATURES • UNIQUELY SITUATED NEAR SAINT-TROPEZ • QUIET AND PRIVATE • GATED ACCESS, LANDSCAPED GARDENS, HEATED POOL AGENT CARLTON INTERNATIONAL EMAIL: INFO@CARLTONGROUP.COM +33 493 95 1111

Each of the bedrooms has its own ensuite features, which as you can see, continue the theme of sumptuous space, exquisite materials, and free flowing design.

Set behind the privacy gates of an exclusive community, this stunning new villa gives off a zen feel of oneness with nature that is extraordinary. Located a few kilometers from Saint-Tropez, the property is only a stone’s throw from the famous Pampelonne Beach.

This is an impressive villa designed to be both unique and ergonomic. Every modern appliance, attention to detail, and luxury has been thought of. The ambiance is the overwhelming feature, however—the feeling of being outside but sheltered.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 57

Travel Mexico

Colorful façades abound in San Miguel de Allende.

Old Mexico Charm A sense of history permeates San Miguel de Allende, whose founding dates back to 1542

By Fred J. Eckert hen most people think of visiting Mexico, they think of beach resorts or archeological ruins. Places such as Acapulco and Cancún or Chichén Itzá and Palenque.

Interesting, pleasant places to be—all of them nice to visit.

But if you want to experience the real Mexico, you’ll find what you’re searching for in one of the Spanish colonial towns or cities that has retained the flair of Old Mexico. The best one, many agree, is a picturesque small historic colonial town that sits just about in the middle of the country in the Bajío mountains of the state of Guanajuato.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, doesn’t merely look historic—it’s genuinely historic. Founded in 1542, it came to be known as San Miguel after 58 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Franciscan monk Fray Juan de San Miguel, who founded it and who was beloved for his work among Native Americans in the area.

The town’s distinctive and highly colMEXICO orful facades look today as they did at their finest moments, unblemished with any intru- SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE MEXICO sions of a more contemporary appearance. This CITY is because the government of Mexico made it a national monument in 1926, thus placing heavy restrictions on altering the town’s historic central district. No new building and no renovation have been—or will be—allowed unless it retains San Miguel de the city’s historic colonial characteristics.

Allende is located Walk about the historic central district of about 170 miles this town and you’ll see that it’s all of the little northwest of things that make such a big difference. Or, more Mexico City. accurately, it’s the lack of all of those little things that give it the charm of Old Mexico.

FROM TOP L: RUBI RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK, SHUTTERSTOCK, BERNARDO RAMONFAUR/UNSPLASH, ABERU.GO/SHUTTERSTOCK

Travel Mexico

You won’t see a neon sign—not one. Nor any billboards. Nor any traffic lights. Nor even so small a sign of our more modern days as a stop sign.

What you take in instead is true charm—it’s there in abundance. The “greater” San Miguel de Allende town area may have a population of about 80,000, but its central district truly does have the look and feel of a very small town in Old Mexico.

Because it’s located in the middle of sunny Mexico and because it sits at an altitude of 6,400 feet above sea level, the town enjoys a temperate climate year-round, which is often and appropriately described as idyllic. It varies little and features low humidity and cool mountain breezes.

Wealthy residents of Mexico City, mainly actors and political figures, have long come to this mountain town to escape the heat and frenzy of the big city. The great climate has also drawn people from much further away. A surprisingly high percentage of its residents—about 15 percent—are U.S. and Canadians who have settled there because of the weather, pleasant pace, and affordable living.

Some of these U.S. and Canadian expats have roots in town that trace back to the days following World War II, when polio scares led many returning GIs to search for healthy spots to live and raise their families, while others came there in the 1950s, drawn by the burgeoning artists’ colonies, including the renowned Instituto Allende.

You’ll find plenty of art galleries, craft stores, and antique shops run by second-generation U.S. and Canadian residents. In one gallery that we visited, the owner hailed from our hometown, Raleigh, North Carolina.

The cobblestoned streets that we walked along

each day made us feel as if we were walking through a sort of open-air museum. On each side of the narrow street stood palacios—old mansion type of buildings—mostly from the late 1500s through the 1700s.

Fountains are ubiquitous. Simple ones. Great tiered ones. Standing in the corners of streets and in the centers of parks and recessed into walls. The town has more than 40 public fountains—and far, far more private ones.

On the main square sits one of the most famous churches in Mexico, the late 17th-century La Parroquia, also known as the Parish of San Miguel Arcángel, a landmark with pink-toned Gothic spires that can be seen from most areas in and near town. Its construction was led by a local who taught himself stonemasonry and created the church’s design from studying postcard drawings of some of the great European churches.

And a good way to get a feel of the place, besides walking around a lot—and also a good place to just sit and relax awhile—is the small main plaza.

Locals gather here to chat or get a shoeshine or buy small gifts from roaming vendors.

And when in San Miguel de Allende, it’s also a waste to not do some shopping—it’s always a highlight for visitors. Mexicans are known for the fine-quality workmanship of their goods—pottery, ceramics, weavings, wooden toys and carvings, metalwork and jewelry, lacquer work, basketry, textiles, and so forth. You won’t have any difficulty locating enough nice shops—and a bonus is that because it’s located in the very center of the country, San Miguel de Allende is an outlet for artisans from every region of Mexico.

The town celebrates about 75 religious and civic holidays throughout the year.

On the main square sits one of the most famous churches in Mexico, the late 17th-century La Parroquia.

Fred J. Eckert is a retired U.S. ambassador and former member of Congress.

AT 6,400 FEET

above sea level, the town enjoys an idyllic climate year-round.

If You Go Getting There: The nearest airport for San Miguel de Allende is an hour and a half drive away in Leon.

Casa de Sierra Nevada makes arrangements to pick up guests there, as well as other airports even further away.

Safety: Many of Mexico’s bestknown places are best avoided, but San Miguel de Allende is a much better choice, and it’s a good place to experience Old Mexico.

Accommodations: A good variety of accommodations are available. Casa de Sierra Nevada is considered the premier choice.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 59

ELECTRONICS

Spy Tech

Electronic surveillance marvels can give you super-powered vision and hearing

By Bill Lindsey

Lifestyle Electronics

Night vision isn’t just for spies; use it to observe wildlife in your yard after the sun goes down.

Caught in the Act The spread of surveillance devices in cities, on highways, and even in our homes is enough to make anyone paranoid. There’s a strong chance that you’re being monitored in some manner whenever you drive down the highway or through an intersection, use an ATM, or even when you knock on a neighbor’s door. Not all monitoring is legal: Individuals aren’t supposed to place listening devices or cameras where they can monitor unsuspecting individuals, and home systems can’t monitor neighboring properties.

Federal law allows the use of spy cameras in the workplace, but they can’t be used where there’s an expectation of privacy, such as restrooms or locker rooms. All 50 states allow the use of video-only home “nanny cams” to ensure the safety of children and prevent theft. Compact cameras are available that can be located on a bookshelf or that are incorporated into innocent-looking devices, such as clocks, surge protectors, a teddy bear, or even a functioning pen.

Super Vision Seeing things that are far away isn’t just important to spies. Watching sporting events, star gazing, and observing wildlife or looking for navigation markers when out on a boat can be more enjoyable with the closer look made possible by binoculars.

For most use, binoculars rated as 7x50, for 7 power magnification and light-gathering objective lenses 50 millimeters in diameter, are considered ideal.

Increasing the magnification does shrink the distance between you and the object, but it also magnifies the vibration caused by shaky hands or the motion of a boat. Mounting the binoculars on a tripod or using image stabilization binoculars is the solution for a shaky view. Image stabilization binoculars use an internal gyroscope or microprocessors that adjust for the motion to provide a more stable image, making them popular for use while boating.

When the Lights Go Out If you want to observe nature after dark, you need night vision. We’ve all seen spies using night vision to catch bad guys in the act at night, moving around like green blobs. There are four technologies to choose from. The original night-vision systems date back to the 1940s, using image intensifiers that convert the infrared radiation emitted by the sun and stars that bounces off of objects into visible green and black images. These systems include the original generation 0 to the current generation 3, which delivers the clearest images, but it’s only available for military and law enforcement use.

This type of night vision can’t be used in daylight to avoid damaging the electronic components.

Digital night vision is another option. These use technology similar to that found in digital cameras to increase the contrast of objects in the dark, making them visible. Digital night vision units tend to be very durable, and many can be found for $150 or so. Yet another type of night vision uses an infrared illuminator to literally light up objects in the

All 50 states allow use of videoonly ‘nanny cams’ to ensure the safety of children and prevent theft.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 61

Lifestyle Electronics

LIFESTYLE

SNEAKY TOYS

It’s not just for secret agents anymore; “spy” gear allows us to have more fun and improve our security.

A video "nanny cam" can be tucked away in a discreet location. dark. The limitation of this type of night vision is the power of the illuminator. In a manner similar to how flashlights can range in how far they can throw their beam, you can only see as far as the illuminator can project.

The most sophisticated night vision systems use thermal imaging to allow you to see objects emitting heat: The warmer an object is, the brighter it will appear. These systems are often used by truckers who need to see what animals might be in their path on dark highways.

Night vision is great entertainment for the entire family. You’ll be amazed to see all the nocturnal wildlife that comes out in your backyard or neighborhood after the sun goes down.

by using a more powerful microphone trained on a distant object, if anything comes between you and the microphone, you might end up with an earache. Also, the farther away the sound source is, the more the audio quality will suffer. Some systems resemble hearing aids, making them more discreet, while others use a dish to capture sounds that are then amplified.

These devices can be fun and often have practical applications, but as noted above, check local laws and respect privacy before you “become Bond.”

Night vision devices use infrared or digital technology to allow you to see in the dark.

If you enjoy watching wildlife, you’ll be amazed to see all the after-dark activity.

2 Don’t Bug Me

Audio amplifiers allow you to hear faraway sounds, such as wildlife, or what's happening on the field at the big game.

Listen Up Hearing enhancement is not just for grandpa; a sound amplifier lets you listen to far-away wildlife.

Please resist the temptation to spy on your neighbors!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MINIGADGETS, INC., RSR ELECTRONICS, CANON, NIGHTFOX

3

Not all “bugs” are insects. A radio frequency scanner can detect hidden listening devices.

62 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

See in the Dark

Workplace and home video surveillance is legal in many areas, but audio surveillance might not be. A radio frequency scanner can ensure privacy at home or the office.

Did You Hear That?

OK, you can now see that mockingbird 100 feet up in the tree even at midnight, but how do you hear it? No good spy would be caught without a parabolic microphone—and neither should you. Some units can pick up sounds from up to 900 feet away, but as is the case with binoculars,

1

Luxury Living Own the Highway

THESE WORLD-CLASS SUVS EXUDE ELEGANCE AND COMFORT. Sport utility vehicles started off as a cross between a truck and a station wagon. These new models show just how luxurious they can be.

By Bill Lindsey

Speed and Style

Ferrucio’s Bull

ALFA ROMEO STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO

LAMBORGHINI URUS

$218,009

Sharing DNA with the iconic Countach, this SUV is stunning from any angle. The luxurious interior, all-wheel-drive and 641-hp twin-turbo V8 delivers a swift, comfortable ride on or off the highway.

$86,850

With a top speed of 176 miles per hour thanks to a twin-turbo 505- hp V6 engine, this may be the fastest way to get the groceries home. Race-inspired engineering and all-wheel-drive ensure sure footing at all speeds.

Fit for a King

ROLLS ROYCE CULLINAN

IMAGES COURTESY OF ROLLS ROYCE, CADILLAC, BMW, ALFA ROMEO, LAMBORGHINI.

$330,000

Rolls Royce seemed highly unlikely to ever build an SUV, but the result is pure magnificence. All-wheeldrive and a twin-turbo 563-hp V12 powerplant linked to an eight-speed transmission confidently propels this beautiful beast anywhere you aim it. The wood, leather, and aluminum accented cabin emulates a members-only club.

Luxurious Land Yacht

CADILLAC ESCALADE $76,295

This world-class SUV blends refinement and ruggedness, and the sculpted exterior is paired with a sumptuous interior. The very impressive Super Cruise system allows hands-free driving and automatic lane changes.

Bavarian Brawler

BMW X7

$74,900

With the interior of a spacious luxury sedan, this SUV transports its driver and six passengers in grand style. An air-suspension system absorbs bumps while all three engine choices deliver inspired performance.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 63

Epoch Booklist

RECOMMENDED READING FICTION

‘City of Thieves’

By David Benioff

A Thrilling Tale of War in Stalingrad The Nazis have invaded Russia and besieged Stalingrad. Lev and Kolya, two Russian prisoners, can avoid execution if they accept a mission to find 12 eggs for a Soviet colonel’s daughter’s wedding cake. This book has great action, memorable characters, and incredible writing.

PENGUIN, 2009, 258 PAGES

This week, our recommended reads range from a collection of first-rate poetry to a fictional work on the rise of Adolf Hitler.

the three become fast friends and work their way through personal difficulties. Here’s a romantic novel with a French background, literary references, and even some recipes.

If those ingredients appeal, then you’ll enjoy this story of a floating bookshop.

BALLANTINE BOOKS, 2016, 416 PAGES

HISTORY

‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’

By Sir Edward Gibbon

How the Roman Empire Fell Apart

‘The Little Paris Bookshop’

By Nina George

Books, a Barge, and Broken Hearts Jean Perdu sells books and dispenses advice via literature from his barge on Paris’s Seine River. Accompanied by a bestselling author and an Italian chef, Perdu sets off in his boat to discover the fate of a woman he had loved long ago. On this adventure,

This is one of the greatest works of human genius. In the mid-1700s, Sir Edward Gibbon wrote six volumes about the Roman Empire, with the first volume being published in 1776. He begins the work with the throne of the Caesars being ever in turmoil and up for grabs. The empire shifts its power from West to East and back, with wars and coups being nearly constant. The author weaves the tale majestically through the lives of the Caesars and through the Byzantine era. It’s a masterpiece that should be read.

PENGUIN, 2001, 795 PAGES (ABRIDGED)

64 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

Are there books you’d recommend?

We’d love to hear from you. Let us know at features@epochtimes.com

HISTORICAL FICTION

‘Sins of the Fathers’

By Herbert J. Stern and Alan A. Winter

Trying to Stop the Rise of Hitler The second book in a series is set within the years of Adolf Hitler’s rise. The authors traverse the decisions made within and without Germany that ultimately brought Hitler to power and empowered him to overtake numerous countries. Protagonist Friedrich Richard, Hitler’s fictional best friend, SS officer, and confidant, works tirelessly to bring Hitler’s reign to an end. A fun, historically accurate, and highly detailed book.

SKYHORSE, 2022, 432 PAGES

PHILOSOPHY

‘Orthodoxy’

By G.K. Chesterton

Humor, Wit, and Spiritual Insight G.K. Chesterton was one of the most influential thinkers of the

20th century. His mix of humor with devastating truth about modern society reverberates in the 21st century.

“Orthodoxy” is a work of genius that indicts the postmodern movement for moving society in the wrong direction.

It reads like a book that was written for 2022.

IGNATIUS PRESS, 1995, 168 PAGES

CLASSICS

‘100 Best-Loved Poems’

Edited by Philip Smith

FOR KIDS

‘Stone Soup’

By Marcia Brown

A Lesson in the Joys of Sharing In this French folk tale, three hungry soldiers tell stingy villagers that they can make soup from stones. Their problem?

They need more ingredients. The gullible villagers supply the extras and create a feast. Reading age 4 to 8.

ALADDIN REPRINT EDITION, 1997, 48 PAGES

Great Gifts Come in Small Packages This collection features some of the greatest and most beloved poems in the English language. It opens with ballads from long ago, moves to Elizabethans such as Marlowe and Shakespeare, and then guns its way through luminaries such as Poe, Tennyson, and Emily Dickinson up to the great bards of the 20th century. This book is a great reminder of the glory of the English language. Each selection includes a brief biography of the poet. It’s perfect for everyone from high schoolers to adults just wanting to read or revisit great verse.

DOVER THRIFT EDITIONS, 1995, 112 PAGES

‘Growing Vegetable Soup’

By Lois Ehlert

Bright, GardenCentric Delights Bright, modern graphics and a simple text celebrate the joys of gardening and harvesting. The descriptive labels accompanied by bold graphics add educational value. It even concludes with a soup recipe for young readers to try.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT, 1990, 32 PAGES

Ian Kane is a U.S. Army veteran, filmmaker, and author.

He enjoys the great outdoors and volunteering.

MOVIE REVIEWS

Epoch Watchlist

This week, we look at a touching buddy road movie as well as one of the most beloved American musicals to have graced the silver screen.

NEW RELEASE

INDIE PICK

Tender Mercies (1983)

Dog (2022 ) Channing Tatum stars as Briggs, a U.S. Army Ranger who has taken responsibility for his deceased commander’s warrior-trained dog, Lulu. Together, the duo must travel down the West Coast in order to make it in time to attend the funeral.

Tatum does a fantastic job, not only acting in this buddy road movie but also co-directing it.

What initially seems like a hilarious comedy hits some dramatic (and even tear-worthy) notes as Briggs struggles to deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as honor his fallen comrade.

COMEDY

Release Date: Feb. 18, 2022 Directors: Reid Carolin, Channing Tatum Starring: Channing Tatum, Q’orianka Kilcher, Ethan Suplee Running Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Where to Watch: Theaters

cast of performers who sizzle on the silver screen and plenty of entertaining comedy.

COMEDY | MUSICAL | ROMANCE

Gene Kelly stars as silent film icon Don Lockwood, who, along with his leading lady, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen),

is struggling to transition from silent films to the talkies of the Roaring ’20s.

Considered by many critics to be the greatest musical of all time, this film has it all—an all-star

ing tale about a man who is rescued from the depths of despair through the power of love.

DR AMA | MUSIC

Release Date: March. 4, 1983 Director: Bruce Beresford Starring: Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Where to Watch: DirecTV, Kino, Vudu

LAUGHS GALORE

Airplane! (1980)

A BELOVED CLASSIC MUSICAL

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Mac Sledge (Robert Duval) is a country singer who never attained fame, partly because of his alcoholism. But when Mac meets younger widow Rosa Lee (Tess Harper) and her son (Allan Hubbard), they embark on a healing journey together.

This powerfully moving drama avoids sentimental Hollywood clichés because of its quiet, relaxed pacing, and the outstanding performances by its talented cast. This is an ultimately uplift-

Release Date: April 11, 1952 Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes MPAA Rating: G Where to Watch: HBO Max, Redbox, DirecTV

Robert Hays stars as ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker, who suffers from World War II-induced post-traumatic stress disorder.

He’s also got the hots for flight attendant Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty) and might just win her over by safely landing an airplane that’s out of control.

The original king of spoof comedy movies, “Airplane!” holds up well since its debut in 1980.

Packed with clever humor and hilarious situations, this

well-paced comedy is perfect to watch with friends and family (ages 13+).

COMEDY

Release Date: July. 2, 1980 Directors: Jim Abrahams; David Zucker, Jerry Zucker Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Where to Watch: Hulu, DirecTV, Epix

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 65

Food Restaurants

COMMANDER’S PALACE: THE CROWN JEWEL OF NEW ORLEANS FINE DINING CONTINUES TO SHINE At the city’s most legendary restaurant, some things have changed—like the new history-making chef at its helm. But its heart—a commitment to the highest standard of hospitality—will always stay the same.

By Melanie Young

E

Stewardship of the restaurant has passed to cousins Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan.

66 I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022

The Creole bread pudding soufflé, the signature dessert, is finished tableside.

Megan Bickford became the restaurant’s first female executive chef in 2020.

COMMANDER’S PALACE Location: 1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 Service: Lunch (Thursday and Friday), dinner (daily), and live jazz brunch (Saturday and Sunday) Dress Code: Business attire Insider’s Tip: For a special occasion, book the four-person Chef’s Table, located in the kitchen.

504-899-8221 CommandersPalace.com

McPhail returned to his native Montana, his longtime team member Megan Bickford was named executive chef. It’s the first time a woman has run the famed kitchen.

Born in Harahan, Louisiana, Bickford spent summers with her family in South Lafourche, Louisiana, in Cajun country. She joined the Commander’s Palace’s kitchen in 2008 after graduating from the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Bickford has added her own creative touches while adhering to the restaurant’s “dirt to plate” philosophy of sourcing ingredients from within a 100-mile radius. Examples include Louisiana crawfish and Texas antelope jambalaya, as well as a dish called From Beirut to the Bayou—cast iron-cooked Gulf shrimp, roasted cauliflower,

grilled celery, and couscous with Southern Maids feta, toasted almond-citrus confiture, and piquillo-olive nage.

Of course, perennially popular classics remain, including turtle soup au sherry, Creole gumbo, and Creole bread pudding soufflé. Customers flock to weekend brunch for live jazz and lunch for 25-cent martinis (limit of three).

The experience goes both ways.

The best part of her job is “the people,” according to Bickford.

“We’re very lucky that we have such wonderful guests,” she said.

As Martin put it, “[We] may hold the keys to Commander’s Palace, but the restaurant belongs to New Orleans.”

Melanie Young writes about wine, food, and travel. She hosts The Connected Table LIVE! and Fearless Fabulous You! podcasts on iHeart.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COMMANDER'S PALACE

very food-loving new Orleans resident has a fond memory about dining at Commander’s Palace, a landmark since 1893 and located in the tree-lined Garden District.

The restaurant has received every major industry award, but what co-proprietor Ti Adelaide Martin cherishes most is its recognition for outstanding hospitality.

“We want our customers to feel wildly pampered,” Martin said.

The Brennan family, New Orleans restaurant royalty, acquired Commander’s Palace in 1969. Martin is the daughter of Ella Brennan— affectionately called “Miss Ella”— who oversaw the restaurant with her family until her death at age 92 in 2018. Miss Ella began working at her brother Owen’s bar on Bourbon Street at the age of 18 and never stopped doing what she loved— delivering a great experience for customers. Now, stewardship has passed to Martin and her cousin Lally Brennan, who carry on her legacy of hospitality.

Guests are warmly welcomed by name; Martin and Brennan are omnipresent in the dining rooms to greet them. Preferences are remembered, and nothing is overlooked. For Martin and Brennan, hospitality extends to their staff as well, and they offer enhanced training programs for their team to foster collaboration and personal growth.

Renowned chefs Paul Prudhomme, Jamie Shannon, Emeril Lagasse, and Tory McPhail have each put their own imprint on the restaurant’s style of “haute Creole cuisine,” embracing the city’s diverse heritage influenced by Europe, Africa, the West Indies, and the Deep South. In 2020, when

With its iconic white and aqua Victorian exterior, Commander’s Palace has been a New Orleans landmark since 1893.

How to Be the Perfect Traveler

Be more aware of the impression you make on others when you travel While on vacation or work-related trips, we make an impression on everyone whose path we cross. Whether we ever see them again is irrelevant; it’s up to us to be that person who is remembered as having good manners.

By Bill Lindsey

4 Clean Up After Yourself

1 Be There Immerse yourself in the local culture; don’t go to France and eat fast food, or to Giza and miss the pyramids. Ask the hotel staff where and what they eat, and the places they go that aren’t on the tourist maps. The idea isn’t to act like you’re a local, but rather to experience what makes each place unique.

You may never return to this place, so make some memories to take home.

CSA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

2 Be Polite In addition to the fact you are an unofficial ambassador for your hometown and, if, on a business trip, your employer, being pleasant is simply the decent thing to do. Make eye contact and smile at waiters, the hotel desk clerk, and others on the airport shuttle bus. Step 1: Think about all the obnoxious, self-important people you come across in your travels and how happy you were to be far from them. Step 2: Don’t be that guy.

This rule applies to hotel rooms, airport waiting areas and airliner seats, rental cars, restaurants, shuttle vans, offices, and tourist destinations. You shouldn’t make a mess, but if you do so, hopefully inadvertently, clean it up. Don’t leave the hotel room looking like a crime scene, or a restaurant table littered with crumpled napkins and spilled food. And, regardless of whether you’re on a city street or in the wilderness, there’s never an excuse for littering.

3 Learn the Language We all have that family member whose solution to not knowing the local language is to speak louder.

A better option, assuming you're traveling someplace where you don't know the language, is taking the time to learn a few common phrases, as well as “please” and “thank you.” A good phrase to start with in the local language is “Dónde está el baño?”

5 Dress Like Mom Can See You Anyone who has recently traveled via commercial airlines will either still be traumatized by the outfits some people feel are perfectly suited for travel, or they are those people. Taking a bit of pride in one’s appearance is an esteem booster and shows respect for those around you.

A T-shirt with questionable artwork might be eminently comfortable, but perhaps not the best choice when you find yourself next to your company’s CEO in the hotel elevator.

I N S I G H T Feb. 25–March 3, 2022 67 67

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