VISION TIMES
VOL.043 OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021
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'FOLLOW THE SCIENCE',
'RECOGNIZE NATURAL IMMUNITY' New Yorkers Protest Vaccine Mandates
By Neil Campbell Vision Times
T
housands of New York City teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other frontline, essential workers marched through the streets in protest of a looming deadline issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio to prove their vaccination status or be placed on unpaid leave. Many say they are frustrated because they developed natural immunity during their tenure serving in the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many employees are facing unpaid leave
ABC7 reports the City has set a hard deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29 for employees to reveal their vaccination status, and that as many as 50,000 of New York’s
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160,000 public employees are facing unpaid leave. “It’s time now. If you don’t want to get vaccinated, you’ll be put on unpaid leave. Well, the vast majority of human beings go to work to get paid. And also, I think for a lot of our first responders, there’s a calling. They
(Images:David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
examining health records from one of the country’s four mandatory health care providers found those who had taken the Pfizer vaccine without a previous positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test were at 27 times greater risk of symptomatic breakthrough infection than (Images:ED JONES/Getty Images)
believe in the work, they care about the work. Those two factors I think are going to cause the vast majority to get vaccinated,” said de Blasio.
The natural immunity concern
A study from Israel in August
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those who were unvaccinated but had a previous positive test. The natural immunity concern was not isolated to rank-and-file members. Oren Barzilay, President of New York’s EMS Union, gave similar comments to ABC7, “All our members were exposed to this
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disease and we developed our natural immunity.” “If we have the natural antibodies in our body, is it necessary to really inject something else into our body? When it’s still early. It’s only 10 months into the vaccination process.”
The safety of the vaccine
On Oct. 26, the FDA’s 18-person Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 17 in favor and one abstention to recommend the pediatric dose of Pfizer’s gene therapy messenger RNA vaccine be rolled out to children aged 5 to 11. During the meeting, which was conducted online, panelist Eric Rubin said, “We’re never gonna learn about how safe the vaccine is until we start giving it.” “That’s just the way it goes. That’s how we found out about rare complications of other vaccines…”
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NATION
A2 | OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021 (Image: ROBYN BECK/Getty Images)
VISION TIMES
Treasury Secretary: Inflation Under Control, But Will Remain High for Months By Jonathan Walker Vision Times
O California Supply Chain Crisis Could Be Rooted in Union Labor Dispute By Neil Campbell Vision Times
A
major supply chain crisis that has left the California coast line littered with dozens of cargo ships as supply shortages plague North America may be rooted in a labor dispute over issues such as automation and the staggering cost of upgrading port equipment to comply with carbon neutral policies.
Automation and a $4 billion invoice NFI Industries, a logistics company headquartered in New Jersey, noted in a July article that the PMA and ILWU have a contact renegotiation pending in the middle of 2022 that “could be the most contentious to date.” The company noted there was an analogous problem during 20142015 negotiations, “The 2014-15 contract negotiations resulted in crippling ILWU work slowdowns and a PMA response that included cessation of lucrative night and weekend work for longshoremen. West Coast ports went into gridlock for almost four months.” “Exporters, especially agricultural exporters who must ship their perishable cargo through the clos-
est port, were hurting from the loss of business, some of which was lost indefinitely.” NFI says three terminals have installed automation since 2008 and that the ILWU “has increasingly come to see automation as an existential threat and a microcosm of the larger threat of robotics displacing human labor.” It notes, “The primary reason is that cargo handling costs on the West Coast are going up owing to regulation, and as the port range continues to lose market share to Canada and the US East and Gulf coasts. Automation, although expensive to implement, is an option terminals need in order to address rising costs.” “On top of that, there is the estimated $4 billion marine terminal operators will have to spend to install zero carbon cargo handling equipment at LA–Long Beach terminals in compliance with the 2030 Clean Air Action Plan.” “Pointing to the $800 million already paid to dockworkers in 2018 in return for the right to automation, some employers see a retreat as throwing money out the window.”
No space for new containers In an Oct. 22 Twitter thread, CEO of Flexport, a freight forwarding
and data analytics company, Ryan Petersen, recounted his experience of commandeering a ship normally chartered to conduct sea-based memorial services for a three hour trip through the Long Beach port complex to see the situation for himself and a client. “The ports of LA/Long Beach are at a standstill. In a full 3 hour loop through the port complex, passing every single terminal, we saw less than a dozen containers get unloaded,” said Petersen in one tweet. “There are hundreds of cranes. I counted only ~7 that were even operating and those that were seemed to be going pretty slow,” he said in another. The nuances of the backlog go deeper, “It seems that everyone now agrees that the bottleneck is yard space at the container terminals. The terminals are simply overflowing with containers, which means they no longer have space to take in new containers either from ships or land. It’s a true traffic jam.” “Right now if you have a chassis with no empty container on it, you can go pick up containers at any port terminal. However, if you have an empty container on that chassis, they’re not allowing you to return it except on highly restricted basis,” said Petersen.
n Oct. 23, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet that hyperinflation is “happening” and that it will change “everything.” Dorsey’s tweet highlighted the inflationary pressure facing America and his tweet quickly became a hot topic. In an Oct. 24 interview with CNN, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen dismissed concerns of inflation. “I don’t think we’re about to lose control of inflation… On a 12-month basis, the inflation rate will remain high into next year because of what’s already happened. But I expect improvement by the middle to end of next year … second half of next year,” Yellen said.
Washington’s push to pump in more money into the economy is expected to make matters worse.
deal to spend about another $2 trillion — makes a total of an extraordinary $5 trillion in spending this year. Inflation is growing at its fastest pace in 30 years. If the economy is already overheating, is spending even more money essentially pouring gas on the inflation fire?” CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Yellen in an interview. The treasury secretary replied that the spending package caused unemployment to drop to 4.8 percent and insisted that monthly rates of inflation have “fallen substantially” from the high levels seen in spring and early summer. According to a report released by the Department of Labor in early October, the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) is at a three-decade high and prices in September were up by 5.4 percent year on year. Inflation has led to price increases on practically every consumer good. Some have come out in support of Washington’s economic policy. Cathie Wood, CEO of ARKinvest, said that inflation did not increase as expected after the Fed’s quantitative easing in 2008-09. Instead, the velocity of money, which refers to the rate at which money turns over per year, declined. This has subdued the effects of inflation. Larry Summers, an economic adviser during the Obama administration, believes that America is more at risk of “losing control of inflation than at any time in my career.” He criticized Yellen’s stance that inflation is declining and will be back to normal levels by next year, pointing out that CPI rates are around 5 percent. “I actually believe the gap between Treasury & Fed statements and the everyday experience of businesses and consumers in terms of inflation has widened in recent months. Until the Fed & Treasury fully recognize the inflation reality, they are unlikely to deal with it successfully,” Summers said in a tweet. He expects housing inflation to “soar” in the coming months. Wage inflation is also “likely.”
The treasury secretary noted that the U.S. has been hit by a supply disruption due to a rise in demand following the economic reopening. She expects these bottlenecks to “subside” as the country emerges from the pandemic. “Americans will return to the labor force as conditions improve,” she added. However, industry experts have expressed other views. Cargo companies have warned that U.S. President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate is posing a threat to the supply chain as it could lead to a shortage of workers. The mandate has set a deadline of Dec. 8 for federal contractors to get their employees vaccinated. “The Biden administration is trying to reach this Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. (Image: Getty Images)
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NATION A3 US Has Lost 'Operational Control' of the Southwest Border: Former Immigration Officials VISION TIMES
OCT 29 - NOV 4, 2021 |
irresponsible and reckless policies that are being implemented by the current administration on the border despite being advised otherwise by professional border security personnel that have been involved in this for decades,” he said.
By Victor Westerkamp Vision Times
O
n Oct. 20, three former officials who served with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol during the Biden, Trump, and Obama administrations told a Republican Senate panel that authorities have lost “operational control” of the U.S.-Mexico border. “I’ve talked to several Border Patrol chiefs who tell me they have lost operational control of the border under this president,” Thomas Homan, former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told three Republican senators, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rob Portman of Ohio, and Rick Scott of Florida, during a roundtable discussion concerning the situation on the U.S.–Mexican border. “They’ve also lost respect for the commander-in-chief and the [DHS] secretary,” Homan added, whose grief was predominantly focussed on President Joe Biden’s immigration policy and his homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Mark Morgan, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol under Obama, shared similar feelings towards the current administration. “What happens at the southwest border does not stay at the southwest border,” Morgan said. “Every town, city, and state in this country is a border town, city, and state. If you have a drug overdose from fentanyl, take it to the bank that the fentanyl came
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Not only border enforcement issue
Sen. Ron Johnson. (Images: Jim Lo Scalzo:Pool / Getty Images)
from the southwest border,” he added. “Almost every day, I get up, as an American, angry. Why? Because I know because I’ve been there, this administration is way beyond not being transparent. They are lying to the American people.” With “400,000 ‘gotaways’ this fiscal year, 1.9 million total enforcement encounters, an all-time record high, so if the secretary were sitting in front of me right now, I would say ‘Mr. Secretary, stop lying to the American people,’” Morgan said.
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Morgan referred to the statements Mayorkas made during a September House Committee, where he said that the border was secure. “We’re executing our plan,” the secretary said, adding that the border “is no less secure than it was.” Next on was Rodney Scott, who served as chief of the U.S. Border Patrol under both Biden and his predecessor, President Donald Trump. Scott felt compelled to testify before the board “to bring attention to the
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The problem is of global scope and also involves possible terrorism threats” - Rodney Scott, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol
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Scott also argued that the problem is not limited to border security enforcement only; there’s also the psychological factor of security. “It’s just like your home,” Scott added. “It’s exactly like your home. If we don’t know and can’t control who and what is in our home, we have no security. If we don’t know who and what are in our country, then we have no homeland security,” Scott added. “ The problem is of global scope and also involves possible terrorism threats” - Rodney Scott, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol “When I left as [Border Patrol] chief, there were 150 nationalities mixed in. It’s not just the Haitians you hear people talking about or just the South Americans; it’s 150 different nations, many of which are directly involved in or ignoring terrorism threats.” Time and again, the Biden transition team was briefed “by border security professionals … that if they rescinded the commonsense policies that were put in place recently if they stopped building the border wall, we all predicted that there would be a mass migration,” Scott said, to no avail.
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CHINA
A4 | OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021
VISION TIMES
Beijing is now blaming Maine lobster for the coronavirus pandemic. (Image:Adobe Stock)
CHINA’S LATEST
COVID CLAIM:
VIRUS ORIGINATED FROM MAINE LOBSTERS "A pro-Chinese online influence operation was targeting Americans to exploit divisions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic." - a report published by cybersecurity firm Mandiant in association with experts from Google.
Washington open up Fort Derrick for investigation. In July, the foreign ministry asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate the issue. Bret Schafer, head of the information manipulation team at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, commented about the latest Maine lobster conspiracy. He said that this is the “third or fourth major redirection” that Chinese officials have undertaken to pin the blame of COVID-19 on the United States. “It looks crude and not sophisticated when you look at individual accounts. But these kinds of networks are designed to try and get topics to trend on social media… Whether or not anyone is buying into lobster or Fort Detrick being the source of Covid, it’s at least having the effect of muddying the truth and confusing people,” Schafer told NBC News. "A pro-Chinese online influence operation was targeting Americans to exploit divisions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic." - a report published by cybersecurity firm Mandiant in association with experts from Google. The operation had initially focused on discrediting the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong; later it began to focus on other issues. According to the report, accounts in the influence operation have worked to mobilize protestors in the United States to respond against the COVID-19 pandemic. “This direct call for physical mobilization is a significant development compared to prior activity, potentially indicative of an emerging intent to motivate real-world activity outside of China’s territories… While this attempt did not appear to achieve any success, we believe it is critical that observers continue to monitor for such attempts in case greater degrees of organic engagement are later realized by the network,” the report states.
By Jonathan Walker Vision Times
E
ver since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing has been trying to promote a narrative that the virus originated somewhere outside of mainland China. One recent conspiracy theory being spread by CCP propagandists is that the coronavirus was imported to China from the United States. The culprit is a batch of Maine lobsters that was sent to Wuhan in November 2019. The misinformation ploy was first noted by Marcel Schliebs, disinformation researcher at the University of Oxford in mid-September. He has been tracking Twitter posts from Chinese media and diplomats for the previous 18 months. He found a network of 550 Twitter accounts that were promoting the narrative in multiple languages. While some of these Twitter accounts used to be authentic and were later possibly repurposed for spreading misinformation, many other accounts were “unsophisticated sock puppets” that had little to no followers. Schliebs found it difficult attributing the campaign to any particular group. But he notes that the accounts consistently promoted a “pro-China” narrative. “We notified Twitter last week, and they were very responsive and suspended the accounts very rapidly within a few hours. Fortunately, we detected the campaign as it was still in its early growth phase and before it could really start to reach and impact real genuine audiences,” Schliebs told USA TODAY. Last January, Beijing promoted propaganda that the COVID-19 virus originated from a U.S. military lab in Fort Derrick. Hua Chunying, the director of the Foreign Ministry Information Department of China, promoted the narrative heavily on Twitter and even demanded that
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CHINA
VISION TIMES
OCT 29 - NOV 4, 2021 |
A5
Debt-Besieged Evergrande Wins Small Triumph With US$83-Million Bond Payment
Southern rock lobster for sale at $189.99 per kilogram, some of the most expensive seafood on sale as crowds gather for last minute shopping before Christmas at the Sydney Fish Market on December 23, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Image: Getty Images)
By Leo Timm Vision Times
S Chinese Communist Party Declares Australian Rock Lobsters a ‘National Security Threat’ By Darren Maung Vision Times
A
s the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to prioritize the red regime’s security, it has now added a crustacean to its list of “national security threats.” The communist government has declared the smuggling of Australian rock lobster into the mainland a threat to its “national security and integrity,” Hong Kong’s customs chief said on Oct. 21, in her quest to shut down the illegal trade.
Treat or threat?
According to the Southern Rocklobster Limited, the Australian rock lobster, native only to the waters of southern Australia and New Zealand, are important for fisheries across the region. Live rock lobster exporters based in Australia have heavily relied on the Chinese market, which accounts for up to 95 per-
cent of exports from the coun- of the lobsters have increased dratry. Bloomberg reported in June matically, and it has not stopped that Hong Kong has become the some people on the mainland world’s largest importer of Aus- from having them on their plates. tralian rock lobsters. Despite lobsters being a scrump- Government up in arms tious delicacy, imports of the The communist-ruled government of Hong crustacean in Kong has vowed China have been to act against the restricted amidst deteriorating relaillegal trade of tions between Beirock lobsters on jing and Canberra the mainland. due to the latter’s In her inaugural belief that wetpress conference, newly-appointed markets in the customs comChinese city of missioner Louise Wuhan was the Ho announced epicentre of the on Oct. 21 that coronavirus outbreak, in addishe would “tackle tion to claims anyone trading in lobsters across that the World Health Organisathe border.” In tion (WHO) has her inaugural The Guardian reported. press conference, been supporting she expressed her the reopening of desire to “safethe wet markets. Since the tensions between the guard China’s national security.” “On the surface, it is a simple two countries escalated, imports
In one incident, a marine officer was killed after her vessel was rammed by smugglers in a high-speed chase, causing the police to launch a crackdown.
matter of smuggling lobsters, but these activities undermine our country’s trade restrictions against Australia,” she said, adding that, “Stopping lobster smuggling is a very important part of protecting national security, so we will pursue it diligently.” Ho has also reported that triad gangs have been bringing in lobsters via speed boats to the mainland for years, a practice that surged to greater heights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, after arresting 13 suspects, around 5,300 kilogrammes of smuggled lobsters, worth US$540,000, have been confiscated by Hong Kong and mainland authorities. The move to ban and restrict the influx of rock lobsters into China has come in light of the numerous crackdowns performed by the CCP, mainly against dissent and protests in the city of Hong Kong, which prompted a national security law to suppress anyone and anything deemed a “national security threat.”
Pair of Natural Gas Explosions Rock Northeast China The second gas explosion in a week
By Ryan Wu Vision Times
A
pair of natural gas explosions rocked two urban centers in Northeast China just days apart. The carnage levelled buildings, killing at least 7 and injuring at least 54. The most recent explosion occurred at an apartment complex in Dalian city, Liaoning Province, on Oct. 25. The roof of the building was blown off as at least two people were killed and seven injured. The blast occurred on the fifth floor at about 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 24, reported Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state broadcaster Xinhua. Officials claim they are still investigating the cause of the explosion. Dalian, a major port and the second largest city in Liaoning Province, is the fourth-most populous city in Northeast China. www.visiontimes.com
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(Image: Screenshot Form twitter )
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Just days prior to the Dalian explosion, another gas explosion occurred in Liaoning’s provincial seat, Shenyang, on Oct. 21. The capital is home to more than 9 million residents. The explosion blasted a restaurant on Taiyuan South Street at approximately 8:00 a.m., damaging nearby buildings. Officials said at least 5 people were killed and 47 injured, but the statistics were questioned by some netizens due to the size of the blast. Taiyuan South Street, near Shenyang Railway Station, is the second largest commercial pedestrian street in the city and one of the most famous commercial areas in China. Officials claimed that 1,512 people were evacuated, more than 8,000 homes lost access to running water, and more than 14,700 were without electricity. ad.ny@visiontimes.com
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henzhen-based Chinese real estate company Evergrande narrowly avoided a default on Oct. 21, making a payment on its offshore bond for 83.5 million U.S. dollars. The payment was made out to Citibank to cover Evergrande’s 8.25-percent $2.03 billion bond, which matures in March next year, as reported by China’s government-run China Securities Times and Reuters. The outlets cited unnamed sources. Evergrande had previously missed the due coupon payment, but was given a 30-day grace period on Sept. 23. The company had missed a total of five interest payments in September and October. The payment has eased pressure on the land developer somewhat, but Evergrande still has to contend with more than $300 billion in debt. Two coupon payments worth a collective $235 million are due on Sunday, Oct. 24. Zhou Chuanyi, Singapore-based credit analyst with Lucror Analytics, told the South China Morning Post that Evergrande’s payment was a “huge boost” given that many in the financial community had expected the company would default and undergo restructuring. Larry Ong, an analyst with SinoInsider, a New York-based political risk consultancy, said that the Chinese government may have had a hand in allowing Evergrande to weather the crisis, at least for now. Ong noted “ample signs of economic deterioration and property market trouble,” including falling home prices, a phenomenon not seen in China since 2015, that would compel authorities in Beijing to avoid worsening an “already dire situation.”
With more than $300 billion in outstanding debt, the Chinese real estate giant is by no means out of the woods. “It’s likely that the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] was forced to carry out damage control,” Ong told Vision Times in an emailed statement. But the aid would have been a lastminute measure, as Beijing cannot afford to signal to firms that the government will always have their back. According to Ong, Evergrande’s ability to make its repayment lines up with statements made by Zou Lan of the People’s Bank of China on Oct. 15 that the government would carry out “risk disposal and resolution work.”
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WORLD
A6 | OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021
VISION TIMES Adobe Stock
Beijing Spreads Its Communist Model in Africa With Massive Digital Infrastructure By Jonathan Walker Vision Times
T
he People’s Republic of China (PRC) has heavily invested in Africa over the past decade and continues to be one of the leading investors in the continent, eyeing the region’s vast resources. One area where Beijing is pouring resources is the digital sector, with experts expressing concern that the communist superpower’s digital push won’t go well for Africans. Chinese brands like Transsion and Huawei dominate Africa’s smartphone market and digital infrastructure. Most of these phones come with pre-installed apps from Chinese tech companies that expand the reach of these firms. According to one study by U.S.based think-tank Atlantic Council, Huawei is singularly responsible for developing 30 percent of Africa’s 3G network and 70 percent of the continent’s 4G network. “The PRC has built 266 technology projects in Africa, ranging from data centers to telecommunication networks and education programs. “ - Australian Strategic Policy Institute. All the tech investments have come at a massive cost — the installation and entrenchment of PRC-style authoritarianism. In Uganda, Huawei supplied surveillance technology that has been used to arrest supporters of opposition groups. In Zambia, Chinese tech has been used to spy on critics of the government. In Ethiopia, a $3 billion Chinese loan was used to monitor telecom net-
works. A recent report by the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN) highlighted the issue of African governments using new technologies to boost surveillance on opposition figures. Weak civil society, lack of proper protection of privacy, government impunity, and laws that protect government
The PRC has built
266
technology projects in Africa,
ranging from data centers to telecommunication networks and education programs.“ - Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
spying were cited as reasons why Africa is seeing a rise in surveillance. Censorship is also on the rise: last year saw 25 internet shutdowns versus 21 the year before. “Citizens need to be more aware of their privacy rights and of the surveillance activities undertaken by their governments… My concern is that we are drifting into digital authoritarianism where it is considered normal for our privacy to be violated and somehow the fact that it is happening digitally lets governments off the
hook,” Tony Roberts, who edited the report, told Reuters. Bulelani Jili, a cybersecurity fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard University, spoke with Voice of America about concerns with Communist China in the region. Jili said that data sharing will be a key point of contention between Beijing and Africa. He is worried about how data will be managed and who will own it. “There is need [for] greater public awareness and attention to this issue in part because it’s a key metric surrounding both development but also the kind of Africa-China relations going forward…. We should also be thinking about data sovereignty is going to be a key factor going forward,” Jili said. “Chinese telecom companies are sponsored by Beijing to aggressively expand into the African market. This also raises the risk of communist China embedding itself into the continent’s tech infrastructure.” - Christopher Ahlberg, CEO of Recorded Future In an interview with CNNNews18, cybersecurity expert Christopher Ahlberg, CEO of Recorded Future, said that the PRC sees Africa as its “backyard.” Chinese companies have the time and opportunity “to plant certain
A Team of Astrophysicists May Have Discovered the First Exoplanet Outside the Milky Way Galaxy By Todd Crawford Vision Times
I
n a historic first, Nasa’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory has zeroed in on what is believed to be a Saturn-sized exoplanet some 28 million light-years away which, if confirmed, would mark the first time an exoplanet has been detected in a galaxy other than the Milky Way. Some 5,000 exoplanets — worlds orbiting stars beyond our Sun — have been catalogued since the first exoplanet was discovered in 1992; however all of these exoplanets were found right here in the Milky Way. Most exoplanets are discovered utilizing what is called the “transit method.” When planets traverse across their host stars, or a planet transits between its star and Earth, the light coming from the host star dims, ever so www.visiontimes.com
Chinese telecom companies are sponsored by Beijing to aggressively expand into the African market. This also raises the risk of communist China embedding itself into the continent’s tech infrastructure.” - Christopher Ahlberg, CEO of Recorded Future
things,” he warned. “It might be a software upgrade, it might be totally fine and legit, but, again they know how to get things into it. Telecom compa-
We are trying to open up a whole new arena for finding other worlds.” - Rosanne Di Stefano
In the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF), workers prepare the shrouded Chandra X-ray Observatory for its lift to a vertical position. (Image: NASA via Getty Images)
slightly, allowing planet hunters the ability to gain significant knowledge about the planet by studying the light and X-rays from the host star and how they change. A team of astrophysicists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics led by Rosanne Di Stefano, used this method to spot the potential planet deemed
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M51-ULS-1b in the Messier 51 galaxy also known as the “Whirlpool” galaxy.
Needle in a haystack
The yet to be confirmed discovery was made utilizing the European Space Agency’s XMMNewton space telescope. Stefano’s team looked at 55 different systems in the M-51 galaxy, 64
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systems in the Messier 101, or “Pinwheel galaxy,” and 199 systems in the Messier 104 galaxy, or the “Sombrero galaxy” before making the observation. M51-ULS-1b was observed in a binary system, orbiting two large objects which are believed to be either a neutron star or a black hole which orbits a massive companion star. The discovery could potentially open up a whole new era of planet detection and study. Scientists believe it is highly unlikely that the dimming being observed could be caused by something like a cloud of interstellar dust passing between earth and the subject star. Unfortunately, the object observed is not scheduled to ad.ny@visiontimes.com
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nies are one of the favorites of hackers but that does not mean that we, as a free world, should accept Chinese infrastructure,” Ahlberg said.
pass in front of it’s star again for another 70 years, so it will be some time before scientists will be in the position to make the observation again. Co-author of the study, Nia Imara, a researcher at the University of California at Santa Cruz said in a statement, “Unfortunately to confirm that we’re seeing a planet we would likely have to wait decades to see another transit,” adding that, “And because of the uncertainties about how long it takes to orbit, we wouldn’t know exactly when to look.” The team has shared the data they have collected and expect other scientists to look at the data to help confirm the discovery. Another co-author of the study, Julia Berndtsson, a researcher at Princeton University said, “We know we are making an exciting and bold claim so we expect that other astronomers will look at it very carefully” adding that, “We think we have a strong argument, and this process is how science works.”
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WORLD
VISION TIMES
An example of Kevin McCairn’s blood under magnification for comparison. (Image: www.flemingmethod.com)
Kevin McCairn’s blood under magnification after the addition of normal saline solution. The clustered cells flow with the addition of solution, but maintain their oxygenated red color. (Image: www.flemingmethod.com)
Experiment Finds Pfizer Vaccine Desaturates Red Blood Cells By Neil Campbell Vision Times
A
simple and independent experiment conducted by a pair of scientists, one from the United States and the other from Japan, appears to show that placing the PfizerBioNTech Messenger RNA gene therapy vaccine into a sample of blood causes oxygen desaturation and blood clotting to occur in red blood cells. The tests also revealed the presence of “garbage” crystalline structures and fibers. In an Oct. 25 video, Dr. Richard Fleming published video results of an experiment conducted by himself and Kevin McCairn, a PhD operating from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology on the Pfizer vaccine.
No disinformation
Fleming said he wrote to the CEOs of both Moderna and Pfizer three times, starting in January, asking for clarification on issues he knows of from his own study of the pandemic and the vaccines of antibody dependent enhancement, reverse transcription into human DNA, and the transmission of the man-made lipid nanoparticles that encapsulate the
mRNA instructions contained in the batches throughout the whole body, but has received no response. As a result, the Awareness Foundation, which Fleming, as well as doctors such as Joseph Mercola, Li Meng Yan, Sherri Tenpenny, and Vladimir Zelenko comprise, wrote to the Food and Drug Administration in August voicing their concerns and asking that the vaccine rollout to be halted until the issues underlying vaccine adverse reactions can be resolved. Two months later, the FDA replied that underlined the official narrative that strict standards were applied to manufacturers in the presentation of data and safety oversight of the vaccine rollout. Frustrated with a lack of data and action, Fleming and McCairn set out to conduct their own experiment. They list the equipment used in the test as: • Light microscopy • Sample of McCairn’s blood • Normal saline solution • 5 vials of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine • Recording hardware In the test, Fleming says the pair examined and contrasted: • What McCairn’s blood looked like under microscopy • How the blood reacted when normal saline was added
It has now been 257 days since the military declared a “one-year-long state of emergency,” seizing power
in Burma, also known as Myanmar. Burma’s UN envoy says the nation is now threatened with a “failed state” status. Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi’s UN ambassador has been vying to keep his UN General
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Kevin McCairn’s blood under 40x magnification after the addition of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Red blood cells turned pale, a sign of oxygen desaturation. The lighter portion is where the vaccine touched and the darker portion is where it did not. (Image: www.flemingmethod.com)
Human blood
Fleming explains that human blood appears red because of the presence of hemoglobin and oxygen saturating red blood cells, a structure that resembles a double-sided shallow dish. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the body before returning to the lungs filled with carbon dioxide. He explains that when blood is exposed to air and picks up oxygen, it turns dark red. When the oxygen leaves the cells, the blood turns a more pale, bright red color. Fleming first shows recorded video of what McCairn’s blood looks like under magnification, showing a dense cluster of red blood cells squirming about. Then, Fleming contrasts the image against what the blood looks like after saline is dropped onto the slide, showing the red blood cells flowing amid the solution, retaining their oxygenated red color. In the next clip, Fleming demonstrates what happens to McCairn’s blood when the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with its lipid nanoparticles and mRNA instructions are dropped onto the slide. The video demonstrates that the area where the vaccine is dropped quickly loses its red color compared to the area where the vaccine did not touch, signaling oxygen desaturation. Additionally, clumping and clotting are shown in motion in the video captured from the experiment.
Assembly seat despite a February diplomatic ousting by the junta. The junta has been pressuring the UN to install an ambassador who will represent the military dictatorship, meanwhile, the ambassa-
Detainees released from Insein Prison celebrate with the crowd in Yangon on October 19, 2021, as authorities released thousands of people jailed for protesting against a February coup that ousted the civilian government. (Image: STR/AFP via Getty Images)
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A7
• How the blood reacted after the Pfizer vaccine was added • What the Pfizer vaccine looked like under the microscope • What normal saline looked like under the microscope
UN Claims Burma Nears “Failed State” Status By Kalina Valqurey Vision Times
OCT 29 - NOV 4, 2021 |
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Kevin McCairn’s blood under magnification after the addition of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Red blood cells turned pale, a sign of oxygen desaturation, while the video in motion showed visible clotting occurring. (Image: www.flemingmethod.com)
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine under the microscope. Fleming and McCairn found substantial “garbage” particles and structures littered throughout the dose. However, the scientists are careful to point out that these are not anything like graphene oxide, chips, or parasites, but simply trash resulting from a sloppy and substandard manufacturing and quality control process. (Image: www.flemingmethod.com)
Fleming, who holds a JD in addition to his MD and PhD, noted there’s a “new issue” that emerges from the discovery, “The drug vaccine manufacturers have had a cer-
tain immunity from liability in the past as to reactions to the drug vaccines, but that presumes that it’s just the drug vaccine.” “There’s a different product liability issue now that is before us, and it’s ‘strict liability,’ which is the selling of a defective product that unreasonably threatens a person or a consumer.” “That promotes a new legal liability, and so for all the attorneys listening to this and anybody involved who’s had a problem, this opens the legal lawsuit opportunities for addressing these vaccines because this is now a strict liability product liability lawsuit issue. Not an issue of the vaccines themselves,” said Fleming.
dor affiliated with the ousted party has not left his post. This is occurring while a second multi-national coalition, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has denied recognition of Gen. Min Aung Hlaing’s military rule. The United Nations’ nine-member credentials committee will vote this November to see if the military junta can gain UN Representation, taking over the UN assembly seat that had been given to Aung San Suu Kyi’s government under the National League of Democracy (NLD) party. Speaking of the present situation as the upcoming vote draws near, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said that it was very important not to send any signals recognizing an illegitimate regime and that “we want to respect the will of the people.” She is referring to what she believes is the veracity of an 82% vote for Suu Kyi’s party at the last election. The military junta, led by Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, proposed that election fraud had occurred and began
a coup after appeals were denied. “The overall situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate sharply,” and that if the democratic government of Suu Kyi was not restored, returning the power “to the people”, then Burma “will go in the direction of a failed state.” Schraner Burgener warned. Schraner Burgener said, “The army uses a range of tactics against civilian populations, including burning villages, looting properties, mass arrests, torture and execution of prisoners, gender-based violence and random artillery fire into residential areas.” Schraner Burgener said the health and banking systems had collapsed and the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance has increased by 2 million since the coup. The upcoming ASEAN gathering, composed of 10 Indopacific nations, has not invited military junta leader General Hlaing to the table. According to Schraner Burgener, this has sent “a clear signal that they also agreed together that the current situation is unacceptable.
Under the microscope
In the next series, Fleming unveiled what the Pfizer-BioNTech injection looks like under a microscope. The duo found concerning foreign particles in the injections, which should not be present under a correct manufacturing process. Fleming contrasted the images of the Pfizer injection against that of normal saline solution, showing a simple, clear fluid with no additional particulate.
‘Strict liability’
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NATURE
A8 | OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021
VISION TIMES
DRAGON'S BLOOD TREES of the Arabian Sea
Popular Pigment, Medicine and Mysticism By Simone Jonker
T
he Socotra Dragon Tree, dracaena cinnabari, is a member of the Asparagaceae family native to the island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea. Dracaena cinnabari is unusual in both its longevity and the fact that, when cut, it “bleeds” a vermillion coloured sap. This berry-producing evergreen is also known as the Dragon Blood Tree. It has a magnificent umbrellalike canopy, which protects its seedlings and many endangered island animals from the blazing heat. These trees may live for up to 650 years and reach up to 39 feet tall, according to India Times. The picturesque trees can be seen dangling from cliffs high in the island’s granite mountains or growing on the island’s dry landscapes.
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The trees typically flower in March, producing white or green clusters of fragrant flowers at the branches’ tips. Honey bees collecting the nectar produce some of the most expensive and immune-boosting honey in the world. Isaac Bayley Balfour, a Scottish botanist, identified three types of dragon blood resin in 1883, the most valuable of which was the colour of garnets with a tear-like shape. The Dracaena Woodlands are known to be one of the oldest forests on the planet, but the number of Dragon Blood Tree saplings are dwindling due to a drying climate. Socotra’s tree habitat is predicted to drop by 45 percent by 2080, according to ScienceNetLinks.
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Similar to frankincense and myrrh, tears of the Dragon Blood Tree are collected after the resin flow from cut wounds has set.
Dragon blood as medicine and more
The dragon blood, or sap, produces a resin which, according to Gardenerdy, is therapeutic in remedies for rheumatism, as a decongestant, and as a carminative. The residents of Socotra Island utilize dragon’s blood resin as a cure-all, as it is useful in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, ulcers, and also as a blood thinner, antipyretic, and muscle relaxant. Dragon’s blood is commonly referred to as a liquid bandage. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the proanthocyanidins and taspine present in the sap make it an ideal covering salve for wounds. It is also effective in treating bug bites and stings. The resin, also known as “emzoloh,” has a number of other practical uses as well. It was
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recognized even before 60 AD as “cinnabar,” a red color pigment said to have contributed to the stunning hue of Stradivarius violins. It has been used in wool dye, ink, ceramic coloring, marble dyeing, and even lipstick and toothpaste. Similar to frankincense and myrrh, dragon’s blood resin can also be burned on charcoal as a ceremonial or recreational incense.
Myths and legends
The “Brothers Blood Tree” is an allusion to the Cain and Abel story, which depicts the first homicide on Earth. According to Yemeni legend, Cain and Abel were the first humans to live on Socotra Island, and the tree grew as a result of Cain shedding his brother Abel’s blood. In Greek folklore, the trees came as a result of Hercules slaying the ferocious hundred-headed monster Ladon in his quest for the three golden apples of Zeus. The dragon’s blood flowed throughout the nation, from which the “dragon” trees sprung. Ladon was given the title of Constellation Draco by the Gods, and it is said that every time the dragon trees are cut, Ladon’s blood pours out. The dark art of sorcery requires “Dragon’s Blood Ink” to create magical seals and talismans in American Hoodoo and Voodoo. Recipes for this magical potion call for alcohol, gum arabic and dragon’s blood resin; but it can also be purchased on Amazon for as little as $4.00. It is quite possible, however, that for the sake of generating a little money, traders of ancient times passed down these legends to create an aura of mystique about the trees.
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NATURE
VISION TIMES
OCT 29 - NOV 4, 2021 |
GATED ARGENTINIAN
A9
eStock s:Adob Image
COMMUNIT Y OVERRUN BY
Native Capybaras ment. Residents and neighbors are unsure what can be done to resolve the situation. To hunt rodents, everal wealthy Argentines, throughout much of South Amerincluding business moguls ica one is required to first obtain and soccer stars, choose the permission from environmental Nordelta villas as luxury retreats to authorities. get away from the hustle and busCapybaras, sometimes referred tle of the city. However, it seems to as “water pigs” or “orinoca,” are that residents are being put to huge, but essentially harmless. These the test as to how much nature South American natives resemble giant guinea pigs. they can handle. The Nordelta vilThe capybara is las were built in the sole surviv1999 on the fringes ing member of the of the Paraná Hydrochaeridae family, which is River Delta north found in the order of Buenos Aires, Rodentia, class originally wetlands where CapyMammalia. bara (HydrochaTwo species have eris hydrochaeris) become extinct. once roamed freely. The two remaining According to species are mainly limited to South WSJ, the exclusive gated commuAmerica, although nity has recently a small number of been ‘swarmed by capybaras are now --Mr. Costantini rodents the size of found in Florida. St Bernards that As per Nordelta roam streets and soil pristine locals, capybaras prefer to dwell lawns in Argentina,’ describing near high-end waterfront propthem as ‘bully pets,’ and sparking erties, which make for about 15% demands for them to be relocated of the 3,000 residences. Cyclists and runners have been known to or castrated. In the continuing Nordelta saga, gather around capybaras blockit’s difficult to overlook the strug- ing their routes as they chew gle between man and the environ- on their favorite food – grass. By Simone Jonker
S
Capybaras are defenseless and lovable creatures that need care and love from all of us.
Clashing opinions
Gustavo Iglesias, a 62-yearold real estate broker and longtime resident of Nordelta, said, “I am not anti-capybara; I want to scratch their cute little belly like no one else, and people are afraid to do anything. No one wants to look like they are against nature.” He said that when his dog was attacked two years ago, he discussed the possibility of reducing the capybara population. His 36-year-old daughter, who also resides in Nordelta, was vocal in opposing him. “She thought I wanted to kill the capybaras! On the contrary. I love being with them, as long as there is balance,” he said. Adrian Mazza, 47, a tour guide at a national park said, “I was outraged by the complaint from Nordelta residents. It is the humans who invaded the territory of the Capybara.” www.visiontimes.com
The animals can be found in many zoos, where they are admired for their friendly and laid-back demeanor. They are often referred to as ‘gentle giants’ that are (albeit unlawfully) maintained as pets. Being semiaquatic, Capybaras can be found sunning near man-
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made lagoons, where they are protected from natural predators like Jaguars and Caimans (the South American Alligator). While they may weigh up to 175 pounds, (27 to 79 kg) they are generally shy and docile, regardless of how imposing they seem. However, capybaras have long
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been considered an agricultural nuisance and are hunted for their highly prized fur and meat, which is considered a delicacy in most South American countries. A 47-year-old educator who did not want to be named said, “The rodents should be relocated due to the danger they pose to drivers ad.ny@visiontimes.com
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and the damage they do to grass and palm trees. We can’t have a wild animal running on the main roads here.” Ms. Ferreira, a Brazilian model who lives in Nordelta, shared a picture of a bleeding capybara on Twitter, claiming that a neighbor with buckshot had shot the animal. Another homeowner shared photos of a Capybara getting crushed by a vehicle. Talia Zamboni, a biologist and environmentalist, lamented. “These things are always divided between right and left, rich and poor, and here in our midst are these little beasts caught.” Some environmentalists have cited the capybara in Nordelta as justification for pushing legislators to seek long-delayed legislation prohibiting development in Argentina’s wetlands. A recent radio interview with Eduardo Costantini, the creator of Nordelta, tried to convince the people of Argentina that there were no intentions to harm animals. He also encouraged homeowners to find a method to live peacefully alongside the capybaras. Mr. Costantini wrote an Instagram post saying, “Capybaras are defenseless and lovable creatures that need care and love from all of us.” Marcelo Canton, an ex-journalist who is now a spokesperson for a local neighborhood association said several proposals have been presented to government authorities. One such project is the establishment of a capybara reserve on 500 acres in Nordelta. Still others are adamant that the animals must be relocated or castrated. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Canton explained it’s been difficult to connect with the state wildlife authorities. So, while this is going on, the organization has placed road signs warning motorists and cyclists to be on the lookout for capybaras. The spokesperson said, “It was very painful to see people accuse us of mistreating the capybaras, because we have a lot of respect for them here. We put a lot of money into making sure they are safe.”
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LIFESTYLE
A10 | OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021
VISION TIMES
W
D L I
S E L IB 2
ED ART P
By Ila Bonczek
Continued from the previous issue
Adobe Stoc k
Roots Roots may be the best of all fall-foraged foods, with the energy of the entire plant being stored there for the winter. Sweet and earthy, wild roots may be a challenge to dig, but they are well worth the effort.
Burdock
Great burdock (Arctium lappa) is a broadleaf biennial forb, producing a rosette of basal leaves and a deep taproot during its first year; and growing to a height of around three feet in the second year to form flowers and the incredibly sticky ‘burs’ that carry the seeds wherever they can hitch a ride to. Burdock has been recognized as a blood purifier since ancient times, and has been traditionally used to treat a variety of health conditions; including constipation, hair loss, arthritis, and respiratory disorders. This plant, native to Northern Asia and Europe, became naturalized in the Americas early on; it is known to have been in use by American herbalists since the nation was settled. Although it is a challenge to dig, the root has a sweet, earthy flavor similar to artichokes. It was sometimes called “poor man’s potatoes.” Don’t bother with the second-year plants, as they have spent their energy on making seeds. Select the first year rosettes, whose energy is now collected in their tender young roots, and carefully loosen the soil around the plant, going as deep as possible. Gently wiggle and pull until the root comes out, hopefully intact. They can be eaten raw, roasted, or dried for use as a medicinal herbal tea.
Burdock has been recognized as a blood purifier since ancient times, and has been traditionally used to treat a variety of health conditions. (Image: Adobe Stock)
. (Image: pxhere)
Day lily
Day lilies, the ubiquitous summer flower, is highly edible and widely available.
Sunchoke
Day lily (Hemerocallis fulva) is another widespread introduction from Asia. Originally brought to North America as an ornamental, it has naturalized and is commonly found along roadsides and other sunny patches in the wild. The orange day lily that you are most likely to come across is fortunately the most tasty variety as well. While the big showy flowers are also edible, since summer is past, we will focus on its fall crop: the roots. When digging for these tubers, take only the fresh, new white ones. The older tubers are tough and nasty, but the young, tender roots are very nice. They taste best in the fall, when the plants have placed their energy for the next season into storage. You can boil them like potatoes, roast them, or serve them raw like crudite. These flowers are so pervasive, you should have no problem finding a good source. (Image : Ch
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Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a tall perennial sunflower with an edible tuberous root. A Jerusalem artichokes can be dug native of the central US, it was cultivated and traded in the fall or early spring. They can be quite plentiful, and they by Native Americans, becoming widespread throughstore better in the ground than out North America, and even invasive in many areas. in your kitchen, so only dig The tenacious tubers grow deep and dense, and readwhat you are ready to use. ily sprout up new growth each year, making them a reliable and plentiful food source. An estimated three to six pounds of tubers can be expected from a single plant. Sunchokes are unusual among root vegetables; In place of starch and sucrose, they contain high amounts of inulin. Inulin is a prebiotic, and provides food for the microbes in the intestines, but it is not digestible itself. So, while it improves gut function, it can also cause flatulence. Frost, cooking, and pickling all help convert inulin to fructose, making the roots more easily digestible. Aside from prebiotics for your gut, sunchokes also offer some B vitamins, minerals, and Vitamin C. Use a digging fork to lift the soil in the area where the plants have died back in the fall. The roots can reach a depth of a foot or more, so dig deep, and sift out the knobby tubers with your hands. They can be kept in the fridge, or perhaps more conveniently stored in the ground, and harvested repeatedly until they start sprouting in the spring.
ristian Guthie r via Fli ckr CC BY
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To be continued.
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HEALTH
VISION TIMES
OCT 29 - NOV 4, 2021 |
A11 AdobeStock
Sugar:
By Ila Bonczek
To understand our relationship with sugar, we should look at its history, the extent of its effects on our body and mind, and the possibilities of doing without. Then we can rationally determine whether we are willing to remain under its influence, or are ready to break free to a greater or lesser degree, and how to do so.
An Addictive Additive That We Would Do Well To Avoid (1)
The current conundrum
Brief history
Sugar was first refined in India, after being introduced from New Guinea around 6,000 BC. It was initially treated as a medicine and later as an exclusive treat for the very wealthy. By 350 BC it could be seen listed as an ingredient in recipes. Around 600 AD, scholars from around the world discussed sugar as a potent medicine from India, and the cane was further processed into crystalized form. Arabs became highly adept at growing, processing, and incorporating sugar into the diet. Blended with finely ground almonds, they created the still-popular delicacy marzipan. With Arab expansion, the use of sugar spread, but it remained prohibitively expensive for all but the wealthy until 1300. Sugar hit the western hemisphere when the Spanish colonized the Canary Islands, set up sugar plantations, and forced the indigenous people into slavery. Columbus brought sugarcane to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and as the demand for production grew around the world, slavery expanded. Sugar plantations, with their use of slave labor as if these humans were merely parts of a large machine, became a blueprint for mass production and a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. This brought great quantities of highly refined sugar into the market at low prices, and it became so widely available and so overused that we began to see consequences. Increased sugar consumption led to widespread decline in health. Faced with increasing evidence linking sugar to poor health (especially heart disease) in the 1960s, the sugar industry paid scientists to shift the blame to fat.
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Sugar is known to weaken the immune system. It is an inflammatory agent, and it also disrupts the gut biome, reducing the good bacteria in your digestive tract and causing imbalances that not only lead to sugar cravings but can also threaten brain health.
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Today, the average American consumes approximately 20 teaspoons of added sugar each day. If you think this sounds like an impossible amount, start paying attention to how much sugar is found in the packaged goods you buy. With each four grams of sugar amounting to one teaspoon, you may find that even the “healthy” foods are loaded with sugar. So what’s the big deal? Well, your health, mainly. We all know that sugar is not good for our teeth, although sugar does not directly create cavities. Sugar feeds the bacteria in plaque, which then produce acid. This acid gradually dissolves enamel, the protective outer layer on your teeth, causing cavities and tooth decay. But concerns regarding sugar and health go far beyond the mouth. Sugar is known to weaken the immune system. It is an inflammatory agent, and it also disrupts the gut biome, reducing the good bacteria in your digestive tract and causing imbalances that not only lead to sugar cravings but can also threaten brain health. On top of that, it stimulates your appetite, increasing your risk for obesity,
diabetes and heart disease. So sugar is not-so-good. Then why do we eat it? Because for one thing, we have become accustomed to things being sweet; and secondly, because it is terribly addictive. Some studies suggest that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. Repeated indulgence in sugary foods leads to greater tolerance in the brain, causing us to want more in order to be satisfied; yet elevated blood sugar levels have been linked to slowed cognitive function and reduced memory and attention span. The problem becomes more apparent when we look at the types of sugars commonly consumed. Most added sweeteners are highly processed, making them even more unhealthy. Refined cane sugar and corn syrup have zero nutritional value other than added calories. Naturally occurring, unprocessed sugars, on the other hand, like those found in fruits, root vegetables, and milk; all come with their important vitamins, minerals, fibers, and proteins, and are not overly sweet.
Cutting down on sugar
Working to limit your sugar intake is a challenging, but worthwhile endeavor. Sugar reduction can improve your overall health, reduce the risk of long-term disease, and improve brain function. Having a realistic plan is the first step. Let’s look at some suggestions to help you get started.
Replace sugar with fruit
Oftentimes, when you’re craving something sweet, a piece of fruit or a bowl of berries is immensely satisfying. Start to keep more fresh or frozen fruit in your house. Don’t limit yourself to apples and oranges. There is an exciting array of exotic and local fruits available to choose from, each offering their own fabulous flavor, important vitamins, and abundant antioxidants. Yogurt, which often comes sweetened, should start out plain. Add fresh or frozen berries or sliced peaches or mango to sweeten it instead. Cereals usually have added sweeteners, too, but you can find some that have only 1 or 2 grams per serving; or better yet, stick with plain rolled oats. Again, berries or sliced fruit are better additives than sugar. Even in cooking, fruit can be used in place of sugar. Bananas or applesauce are commonly used in baked goods to reduce the fat by adding moisture, but they are also good for reducing overall sugar content. The sweetness won’t be as intense, but you will gradually lower your tolerance for sugar and the flavors will become more pronounced, and more satisfying. Please keep in mind that dried fruit, because the moisture has been removed, has very high sugar and calorie content in a small package. It is best to eat dried fruit in small amounts together with high protein foods like nuts or yogurt, rather than enjoying it as a snack on its own. The sticky nature of dried fruits also makes them a menace to your teeth, so be sure to brush afterwards!
To be continued.
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A12 | OCT 29 - NOV 4 , 2021
VISION TIMES
ALL-NEW PRODUCTION WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA
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A Divine Culture – Lost
Hope and Renewal
Ancient Chinese civilization–infused
Ushering in a grand renaissance, Shen Yun presents a majestic vision filled with hope.
with Buddhist and Taoist spirituality and values–thrived for thousands of years until communism seized power. Under tyranny, much of this divinely inspired culture has been destroyed or forgotten.
Darkness Spreads from China Decades of tumultuous communist struggle brought unimaginable human suffering upon the Chinese people. And now, the
oppression and darkness, so much light can come out of that.”
The gong resounds, the curtain opens, and a heavenly scene is right before your eyes. Fairies emerge from a sea of billowing clouds. Mongolians ride on horseback across grasslands as vast as the sky. Classic stories of love and loss, of humor and heroic deeds, of divine intervention, all come to life on stage.
—Paul Skousen, professor and author
“It’s life-changing, you’ll walk away feeling positive, and like you want to help the world be a better place.” —Andrea Preisler, actress and therapist
Shen Yun Returns
China’s borders causing suffering and panic
Shen Yun restores the vibrant, exciting, and profound essence of Chinese culture. Witness the beauty. Behold the drama.
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