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In this continuation of our African Revolutions and Decolonization series, we we have an lengthy conversation that just starts to scratch the surface of Sudan, with a terrific guest and guest host. Here, we are joined by Mohamed Khougali, author of Politically Unconscious: The Psychic Aftermath of the Sudanese Revolution, and returning guest host Ruehl Muller, whom you will remember from our episodes with the Communist Party of Swaziland's Bafanabakhe Sacolo. Stay tuned, part 2 of this conversation will be coming very soon! Mohamed Khougali is a Sudanese socialist who was part of the Sudanese revolution of 2018-19. He is currently residing in Germany where he and his wife founded the Black Radicals, an anti-racist group informed by the Black Radical Tradition. He also continues his radical psychological practice, where you can reach him (notatherapist.de). Also be sure to follow his instagram, Black Radicals! Ruehl Muller is senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, and the editor of the fantastic Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu (buy a physical copy or download the free PDF from Iskra Books). Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
Stewart Alsop sits down with investor and entrepreneur Adnan Hassan on the Crazy Wisdom Podcast to explore his thesis on creating a small state asset class, using evolutionary insights from asteroids, dinosaurs, and mycelium as a framework for understanding resilient systems. Hassan brings his background in Silicon Valley technology, New York and Washington finance, and sovereign funds—including senior leadership roles at the World Bank—to explain why 162 of the world's 200 states are actually small states with populations under 12 million, and why these distributed, autonomous entities might be best positioned to survive the coming global shocks from AI, currency disruption, and the wobbling international order. For more information about Hassan's work, visit www.sac-holding.com (SAC stands for Small State Asset Class), where you can find two-minute videos explaining his approach to building this new financial architecture.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and the asteroid, dinosaur, mycelium thesis as a framework for understanding evolutionary survival patterns across billions of years05:00 Global order institutions are wobbling while currency systems evolve and AI emerges, creating simultaneous shocks that favor adaptable networked systems over large centralized structures10:00 Small states defined as populations under 12 million represent 162 of 200 global economies, contradicting assumptions that most nations are large centralized powers15:00 States behave as selfish entities seeking regulatory control while individuals seek autonomy, creating tension as the Westphalian system undergoes fundamental transformation20:00 Cooperation versus competition in human systems, examining how KYC requirements and state surveillance are expanding globally including in America and Argentina25:00 Small states are most interested in rule-based global order because they need protection from larger powers, unlike powerful nations that prefer unconstrained action30:00 Of the twenty richest countries by per capita GDP, seventeen are small states, yet no small state asset class exists in financial markets35:00 Uncorrelated assets provide diversification protection for investors, while small states offer geographic distribution across Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Gulf, and Pacific regions40:00 Cross-border family business collaboration between small states will increase, leading to knowledge sharing and a proposed Davos for small states event45:00 The individual sits at the core of this framework, with AI enabling creative minds in small places to access world-class resources previously impossible50:00 Demonstration of accessible technology costing only ten dollars shows how AI removes barriers, allowing creativity to become the distinguishing factor for entrepreneurs globallyKey Insights1. Adnan Hassan presents a thesis grounded in billions of years of evolutionary data, arguing that systems which survive major shocks share common characteristics: they are autonomous, networked, cooperative, resilient, and lack single points of failure. He uses the asteroid strike that killed the dinosaurs as his central metaphor, noting that while massive dinosaurs went extinct, smaller organisms like mycelium, ants, bees, and marsupials survived because of their distributed and adaptable nature. Hassan believes we are currently experiencing a similar asteroid-level shock to our global systems through the simultaneous disruption of the rule-based global order, currency systems, and artificial intelligence, all happening at once over the next three to five years.2. Hassan identifies 162 out of 200 global states and economies as small states, defined as having populations under 12 million people. This number surprises most people, including sophisticated observers who typically guess around 60 or 70. Even more striking, 17 of the 20 richest countries by per capita GDP are small states, representing 85 percent of the wealthiest nations. These small states have disproportionate resources to deploy internationally and the greatest interest in maintaining a rule-based global order since they have the most to lose from chaos and cannot rely on size or military power for protection.3. The current global institutional framework established after World War Two, including the UN, IMF, World Bank, and WTO, is fundamentally wobbling and reaching the end of an era. Hassan argues that states are inherently selfish creatures addicted to regulatory sovereignty and control, but the systems designed to give these states structure and credibility are now failing. This represents the first major restructuring of the global order since the post-World War Two period, which itself followed 400 years of colonial systems. The transition period will be characterized by significant chaos and convulsions throughout the global system.4. Hassan advocates for creating a new small states asset class in financial markets, which does not currently exist despite small states representing the majority of countries and the wealthiest per capita economies. This asset class would provide large institutional investors like pension funds and sovereign wealth funds with globally diversified, potentially uncorrelated assets while simultaneously supporting political and economic structures that embody the evolutionary principles of survival through distributed, autonomous, networked cooperation. The small states asset class represents both sound evolutionary strategy and pragmatic investment opportunity.5. Technology without philosophy is efficiency without purpose, a concern Hassan raised as early as 1994 when he helped prototype the first electronic trading market on the internet. He witnessed the naive optimism of Silicon Valley technologists who believed simply throwing tools over the wall would create a better world, but this approach made both good and bad activities more efficient. Social media demonstrated this danger by efficiently creating disruption and loss of trust in political systems. Hassan warns that the same mistake is being made with AI, where powerful tools are being deployed without adequate philosophical framework or consideration of consequences.6. Small states and their leading families will find more common language and shared understanding with each other across geographic boundaries than with larger neighboring states. A family business in Montevideo has an easier conversation with counterparts in Singapore or New Zealand than with businesses in Sao Paulo because small state actors recognize each other's unique realities and circumstances. Hassan plans to create a Davos for small states in 2027 to facilitate this knowledge sharing among the mycelium colony, allowing different nodes to exchange innovations and strategies across the distributed global network of small state actors.7. The optimistic future involves unleashing individual creativity globally by giving people access to AI-enabled tools that provide world-class legal, financial, and consulting advice in their language of choice. The solopreneur can now become a conglomerate, with individuals no longer constrained by lack of access to execution machinery. Hassan envisions young people in places like Gabon, Swaziland, or Uruguay having the same access to sophisticated business infrastructure as those in traditional power centers, with the distinguishing factor being creativity of mind rather than geographic or institutional privilege. Small states can pivot faster on regulatory frameworks, sometimes achieving in a dinner meeting what takes large states three years of legislative, executive, and judicial wrangling.
What does it look like when conservation becomes a long view, a daily practice, and a promise to the future? In Episode 198 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Kevin Jolliffe, reserve manager at Wild Tomorrow, for a rich conversation about rewilding, restoration, community partnership, and the patience it takes to care for a landscape over time.In Part 3 of the Wild Tomorrow series, Kevin shares how a childhood rooted in nature grew into a career in conservation that has taken him around the world and back again. From sea turtles in the Seychelles to habitat restoration in South Africa, he reflects on what it means to steward land, manage wildlife, and think in terms of generations rather than quick fixes.This episode also continues the Wild Tomorrow story through the lens of balance and hope. Kevin and Dr. Diane talk about what it means to let nature lead when appropriate, step in when human action caused the harm, and support the surrounding community as part of the larger conservation mission. If you've loved the earlier Wild Tomorrow conversations with co-founders John Steward and Wendy Hapgood, and community conservation manager Aphiwe Notshaya, this episode deepens that story in a meaningful way.Chapters01:19 A childhood in nature02:45 Studying conservation and meeting his wife03:33 Work in the Seychelles and the Bahamas04:56 How Kevin joined Wild Tomorrow05:56 What a reserve manager does06:53 A "typical day" on the reserve08:42 Rewilding the land10:15 Man-made problems and nature's balance13:05 Species brought back to the reserve14:37 Anti-poaching and community partnership16:29 Working with local herders and land use19:32 Nursery work and growing trees21:22 Reconnecting with nature24:23 Quiet moments with hippos27:01 How to care about conservation29:34 Thinking in generations, not instant fixes30:24 Favorite trees, birds, and animals32:02 What gives Kevin hopeAbout Kevin JolliffeKevin was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His early holidays with his aunt and uncle in Hluhluwe sparked his love for Zululand and determined the career he would later pursue. As the youngest of five siblings and the odd man out with the neighbourhood children, Kevin developed a passion for nature. Afternoons were spent exploring the Botanic Gardens where he honed his bird watching skills, collected butterflies and developed an interest in plants, including collecting and growing orchids at the age of seven, becoming the youngest orchid grower in South Africa for over 10 years. Kevin is currently writing and illustrating a book on the orchids of KZN and his vast knowledge has been put to good use while working with the Pollination Ecology department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Kevin was always determined to work in nature conservation. He attained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he met his conservationist wife. They have been working together ever since. He has worked at government run, Ndumo Game Reserve as well as a number of private reserves in KZN, the Western and Eastern Cape, Swaziland and Limpopo provinces. He was the conservation manager for Cousine Island in the Seychelles for five 5 years conducting in-depth monitoring of nesting Hawksbill sea turtles, sea birds and endangered land birds. From there he took up the position of landscape manager in the Bahamas, before returning to South Africa to manage a private nature reserve in the Western Cape. He is now proudly Wild Tomorrow Fund's Reserve Manager at The Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve.Links and resourcesLearn more about Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning: drdianadventures.comExplore Wild Tomorrowand follow on Instagram and LinkedInListen to the Wild Tomorrow Series, featuring John Steward and Wendy Hapgood and Aphiwe NotshayaJoin Wild Tomorrow for the Junior Wildlife Crime Scene Detective Event on July 20, 2026Support the showShare this episodeIf this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friendStay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.
On this episode of The Ty Brady Way, Ty sits down with Ndzaba Mngomezulu, an art instructor and author from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) who now lives in Brazil and is on a mission to help busy, discouraged adults fall back in love with drawing. Ndzaba shares how growing up in an education system that pushed math and science over creativity slowly trained him away from art. The message wasn't always said out loud, but it was clear: certain subjects carried more weight, and art was treated as optional. For someone who genuinely loved creating, that kind of environment quietly chips away at what you believe is possible for yourself. So he spent years chasing music instead, buying gear, making beats, and thinking that was his path. It wasn't until a church service at the end of 2024 that he felt a clear pull back to drawing. He listened, went back to basics in January 2025, and watched his skills take off faster than he ever expected. Ty and Ndzaba get into the real stuff: what it means to carry a gift you've been ignoring, why humility is the most underrated skill in business and in art, and how getting fired from a job he didn't even love turned into the exact push he needed to break into the gaming industry. You'll hear how seven months of uncertainty, a pregnant wife, and a Discord server led to an opportunity he never would have found if things had gone according to plan. They also talk about the role AI plays in his business and why he sees it as a tool for filtering and efficiency rather than a replacement for real human connection. Ndzaba is clear that people are craving authenticity right now, and that the artists and creators who lean into that will have more opportunity than ever before. Ndzaba also talks about what he's building with Art Creators Academy, a platform designed to take struggling artists from work they're ashamed to show anyone to drawing with real confidence. He's not just teaching technique. He's helping people give themselves permission to start again, and to stop waiting until they feel ready. His message is straightforward and worth hearing: you are the most important investment you will ever make in your life. Not the investment someone told you to make. The one you already know you want to make. If you've been sitting on a creative passion and telling yourself it's too late or too impractical, this conversation is going to hit close to home.
On this day, 20 May 1963, 1350 Black workers at the Havelock mine in what is now Eswatini walked out on strike. They were demanding a nearly quadrupling of their minimum pay, as well as the dismissal of several managers, and better housing, sanitation and food. All 150 white workers at the facility scabbed on the strike and kept working.The Swazi King sent a telegram to the workers condemning the strike, but they ignored him. 12 workers were arrested, but the strike continued and other workers also walked out in support of the miners, including workers at the Ubombo sugar estate and the Peak Timber mill.The King then met with strikers personally and ordered them back to work, but again they refused. Eventually, a battalion of British troops was brought in at 3 AM on June 7, who set up roadblocks and surrounded picket lines around the mine. They questioned over 1000 miners individually, after which all except 153 returned to work.British troops then helped local police round up all the remaining strikers who were charged with various crimes including being on strike illegally, and 91 workers convicted.More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/12556/havelock-miners-strikeOur work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
On this day, 2 May 2022 approximately 2000 striking garment and textile workers gathered in the Nhlangano manufacturing hub in Eswatini for a mass meeting. Some had walked more than 8 km to get there.The strike of around 8000 workers in total had begun five weeks prior, demanding a living wage of at least E15 per hour or E2983 (US$183) per month.Representatives of the striking union, the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland, complained that police and government troops had been harassing strikers, visiting their homes, tear gassing them and threatening them with eviction if they did not go back to work.Around 30 workers at the meeting got up to speak in favour of continuing the strike, and despite the repression, the strikers resolved to continue their work stoppage. On May 9, strikers agreed to return to work pending further negotiations with employers. Upon their return to work, the employers attempted to force workers to sign documents stating the reason for the absence, which most workers refused to sign. The result of the dispute is unclear.More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/11054/eswatini-textile-strikeOur work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
The police in Limpopo say they are intensifying crime prevention efforts through Operation Shanela II, which recently led to the arrest of 27 suspects, including one in possession of dagga worth over R2 million in Hoedspruit. A 38-year-old foreign national was arrested shortly after entering the Hoedspruit Central Business District while driving a white bakkie. Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered 22 sacks of dagga, graded as Swaziland dagga, with an estimated street value of over R2 million. Elvis Presslin spoke to Police Spokesperson in Limpopo Colonel Malesela Ledwaba
We at Rosebud are thrilled about today's guest, and we know you will be too: it's Richard E Grant. Actor, writer, influencer and star of one of the most loved British films of all time, Withnail and I, Richard talks to Gyles about his extraordinary childhood. Born to good-looking parents in the ex-pat community in then-Swaziland, Richard's young life was full of Enid Blyton, barbecues and Pelham puppets - but things changed when his mother left the family and his father descended into alcoholism. What follows is a story full of shocks and surprises - including adultery, attempted murder and estrangement - and is well worth listening to. Richard also tells Gyles about his move to London, how he broke into acting, and how he met and married his wife, Joan Washington. And he talks about how he has coped since Joan's death in 2021.Many thanks to Richard for this fascinating conversation.Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, we're jetting off to Eswatini! Highlights include: - It used to be Swaziland, don't you know... - Everyone knows there's half as many flags as countries, right? - Can we make a game about AIDS and low life expectancy? - Watch out for lightning! - Eddie Redmayne, and some woman... - Obviously, all game artists know each other... - Save the rhinos!
Netflix shouldn't have survived.In 1997, Blockbuster owned home entertainment—9,000 stores, a business fueled by late fees, and a brand that felt untouchable. Netflix was a scrappy DVD-by-mail experiment that almost sold itself off to stay alive.So how did Netflix win?In this conversation, Reed Hastings breaks down the behind-the-scenes decisions that helped the business thrive: the uncomfortable leadership choices, the culture blueprint that surprised corporate America, and a near-catastrophic misstep that could have blown the whole thing up.Reed also talks about what shaped him long before Netflix: being a late-bloomer, teaching in the Peace Corps, learning humility from a former boss, and the painful management mistakes he made while building his first company.This is a masterclass in: challenging the status quo, choosing a culture on purpose, and making big bets without pretending you're always right.What you'll learn: Why Netflix's early “obvious” advantages weren't enough—and how close it came to dyingThe leadership lesson Reed learned from a CEO who was admirable… but strategically wrongWhy Reed says the best companies are like championship sports teams: if you can't perform at peak, leaveThe “keeper test” and how it changed corporate cultureThe Qwikster fiasco: what went wrong, and how Netflix moved to prevent future misstepsBuilding a House of Cards: How Netflix made the leap to original contentReed on the media landscape: The remote-control moment of truth, rival streamers, and the rise of AITimestamps:00:08:06 — “I was a late bloomer.” Reed on why no one saw greatness coming00:09:30 — Peace Corps in Swaziland, and the moment he nearly quit00:11:23 — An unforgettable lesson learned from the CEO who washed Reed's coffee cups00:14:39 — Building his first company in a cold cabin—no internet, just obsession and proof of concept00:16:48 — Reed's early struggles as a manager: “Too busy chopping wood to sharpen the axe.”00:24:11 — Blockbuster's late-fee pain and an early bet on DVDs00:44:47 — The dot-com crash… and the $50M LVMH round that saved Netflix (barely)00:47:12 — A possible Blockbuster buyout: “We probably would've taken any offer.”00:56:18 — The Netflix culture deck: “We're not a family,” and why that shook people up01:05:07 — The Qwikster crisis, and the backlash that humbled Reed01:19:33 — The competition: Netflix is just
Hvorfor er det så vanskelig å snakke om rasisme i Norge uten at samtalen låser seg? Hvorfor oppleves begreper som «woke» mer truende enn opplysende? Og hva skjer med et samfunn når vi mister evnen til å være uenige uten å gå i forsvar?I denne episoden av Det du ikke visste! møter jeg Lisa Esohel Knudsen, forfatter og samfunnsdebattant, til en ærlig og utforskende samtale om rasisme, identitet, sinne og ytringsrom.Lisa deler erfaringer fra oppvekst og skolegang i Swaziland, studier i sammenlignende politikk, og livet som offentlig stemme i et stadig mer polarisert ordskifte. Sammen snakker vi om hvor «woke» faktisk kommer fra, hvorfor kanselleringskultur ofte misforstås, og hvorfor sinne noen ganger ikke er problemet, men et signal vi bør lytte til.Dette er ikke en episode som gir enkle svar eller ber deg velge side. Det er en samtale om å tåle ubehag, utfordre egne sannheter og gjenvinne evnen til å lytte, også når vi er dypt uenige.En viktig episode for deg som er lei av skyttergravene, og som fortsatt tror på verdien av samtale.https://www.instagram.com/lisaknudsen/https://www.norli.no/forfatter/lisa-esohel-knudsen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, for our final episode of the year, I am joined by someone whose life story reads like an atlas: the actor, writer, and now podcast host, Richard E. Grant.Born in Swaziland, now known as Eswatini, in southern Africa, Richard grew up in a world of big landscapes, no television, and endless imagination. From there he moved to London in the early 1980s, and very quickly became unforgettable figure on stage and screen - from his iconic role in Withnail & I, all the way through to Gosford Park, Jackie, Star Wars, Saltburn, and his Oscar-nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?Throughout it all, running beneath the red carpets and film sets, there has been travel. He spent 33 summers at a beloved farmhouse in Provence with his late wife Joan, brocante shopping and watching the seasons change. He's had close encounters with sharks while scuba diving off Mozambique, checked into seedy hotel suites in Las Vegas, and floated on the still waters of Lake Como.And now, his travel stories telling them in a new way. Richard is the co-host, of the brilliant new podcast Hotels with History with travel pr Jules Perowne - a series that dives into the scandals, intrigue, glamour and ghosts of some of the world's most legendary hotels.So, sit back, pour something festive, and join me as we step inside the seven travel chapters of Richard E. Grant.Destination Recap:Eswatini (Formerly Swaziland) London, England MozambiqueProvence, France Masai Mara, Kenya and Tanzania Las Vegas, Nevada, USAPassalacqua, Lake Como, ItalyRitz Paris, France The Mark Hotel, Manhattan, New York, USAMkhaya Game Reserve, Safari, SwazilandIsraelGrand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Giza, Egypt SpaceRichard is co-host of the Hotels with History podcast, Season 1 out now I'll be back with a new season of the podcast in the Spring.With thanks to...Citalia - If you're dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.Naturhotel Forsthofgut – if, like many of our guests, you're dreaming of an alpine escape rooted in harmony with nature, visit forsthofgut.at to start planning today.Beaverbrook Hotel - Escape the everyday and discover Beaverbrook for yourself, a truly indulgent country-house retreat just outside London. Find out more and book your stay at beaverbrook.co.uk.Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me next time, come and follow me on Instagram I'm @hollyrubenstein, and you'll also find me on TikTok - I'd love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there's the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 165 episodes to keep you busy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever felt scattered, trying to please everyone while losing sight of your true purpose? In a powerful message on consecration, Pastor Pencil challenges us to live a focused, set-apart life for God. Drawing from John 8:12-14, where Jesus declares "I am the light of the world," he reveals how understanding our divine purpose transforms our effectiveness. Through the acronym FOCUS, Pastor Pencil outlines a practical framework: Find your purpose, Order your priorities, Create your plan, Understand your calling, and Stay accountable. He emphasizes that just as Jesus had a clear 14-word purpose statement, we too must discover and live out our unique calling. Using personal examples from his missionary work in Swaziland, he illustrates how staying focused on God's specific assignment leads to Kingdom impact. The message culminates in a stirring reminder that when we know where we're going, distractions lose their power – and like focused light, our lives can create lasting change when aligned with God's purpose.
Ralph welcomes Timothy Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) to speak about how federal workers across all government agencies are being unfairly denigrated and summarily fired by the Trump Administration to clear the way for corporate corruption. Plus, we are joined by Toby Heaps, Editor-in-Chief of “Corporate Knights” magazine to talk about the benefits of the cooperative business model over the corporate shareholder model.Timothy Whitehouse is executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Prior to joining PEER, he was a senior attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency and was head of the Law and Policy Program at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal.The time to stigmatize federal workers is over. It's time to start rallying for unions for federal workers and what they do, and to support the idea that government plays an important role and that government (the civil service) must be as non-political as possible. Our country will be much better for it.Timothy WhitehouseThat's a good way to describe it: supersonic. We knew things were going to be really bad, but they are much worse than bad because there's no check and no balance on this President's madness. And some of the people and institutions we had hoped would stand up a little bit are collapsing one by one.Timothy WhitehouseOur foreign enemies could not have devised a better way to grind our system to a halt, and that's what's happening.Timothy WhitehouseToby Heaps is the CEO and co-founder of Corporate Knights, and Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Knights magazine. He spearheaded the first global ranking of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations in 2005, and in 2007 coined the term “clean capitalism.” Toby has been published in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Globe and Mail, and is a regular guest speaker on CBC.I think in the co-op movement, the biggest bugaboo holding it back (in North America, that is) is people's perception that it's not a significant force. And it is already a significant force. In many cases, we're not familiar that the company might be a co-op (such as Associated Press or Ocean Spray) but in the United States alone, the turnover of co-op enterprises sales in 2023 was $324 billion US. And so, it's a significant part of the economy already.Toby HeapsI can't underline enough that if you care about a sustainable economy that works for people and planet, that the operating model is not just the clean economy (the environmentally friendly economy), it's the cooperatively-run economy.Toby HeapsThe principal obstacle to co-ops is the inadequate engagement of consumers to know about the huge benefits— to control the local economy from multinational corporations (absentee), who are pulling strings in ways that are very damaging, and basically to assume the purchasing power of the consumer.Ralph NaderNews 9/12/2025* Several major stories surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case have emerged in the past week. First, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released a note written by President Trump to Epstein included in the latter's “birthday book” from 2003. In this note, Trump refers to Epstein as his “pal” and writes “May every day be another wonderful secret," according to Reuters. Trump has denied that this letter even existed, going so far as to sue the Wall Street Journal for defamation over their reporting in July. Trump continues to deny that he wrote the letter, though his signature is a perfect match, and he has sought to tamp down the matter, calling it a “dead issue,” per NBC.* In Congress, Republican allies of Donald Trump are seeking to quash the Epstein issue as well. On Tuesday, Republicans on the House Rules Committee “shot down a bid to put the Epstein Files Transparency Act—which would compel the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein—to a floor vote,” in an 8–4 party-line vote, the New Republic reports. However, despite this setback, dissident Republican Thomas Massie continues to press the issue. Speaking about the birthday note, Massie said “It's…indicative of the things that might come out if we were to release all of the files…embarrassing, but not indictable. And I don't think avoiding embarrassment is a reason to avoid justice,” per CNN. Massie added in an interview on ABC that "I think it's going to be embarrassing to some of the billionaires, some of the donors who are politically connected to [Trump's] campaign. There are probably intelligence ties to our CIA and maybe to other foreign intelligence." Democrat Ro Khanna insisted in this same interview that he and his allies, including Massie, will be able to pull together a House majority of 218 members to force a vote on releasing the files.* Our final Epstein story for the week concerns James O'Keefe. Former leader of Project Veritas, O'Keefe continues to carry out far-right hidden-camera sting operations. In a rare move targeting conservatives, O'Keefe engineered a date between Joseph Schnitt, a deputy chief of staff at the Office of Enforcement Operations at DOJ, and an operative in his employ wherein Schnitt admitted that the Trump administration will “redact every Republican or conservative person in those files, [and] leave all the liberal, Democratic people.” In this video, Schnitt also implies that Epstein's lieutenant, Ghislaine Maxwell was relocated to a lower security prison to “keep her mouth shut,” as part of a deal with the government. This according to the Hill. One should certainly take revelations from O'Keefe with a heavy dose of salt, but these troubling comments should also raise suspicions about the government's possible plans to manipulate information related to this case for political ends.* Aside from the Epstein affair, the Trump administration continues to issue destructive policy directives in all directions. AP reports the federal Department of Transportation has scrapped a Biden-era rule that required airlines to “compensate stranded passengers with cash, lodging and meals for flight cancellations or changes caused by a carrier.” This rule, which sought “compensation starting at $200…[and] as high as $775…for delays of nine hours or more,” was consistent with European aviation consumer protections. Unsurprisingly, airlines – represented by lobbyists in the employ of the industry trade group Airlines for America – bitterly resisted the rule and celebrated the administration's abandonment of this basic consumer protection. The Biden Transportation Department had also been weighing rules that would have required airlines to provide, “free rebooking on the next available flight, including flights on rival airlines, as well as meals and lodging when passengers are stranded overnight.”* At the same time, the Trump administration's Federal Trade Commission is abandoning its rules banning noncompete clauses for employees. An eye-popping 1 in 5 workers are bound by noncompetes, approximately 30 million Americans, and experts estimated that banning such clauses could boost wages to the tune of nearly $300 billion per year and help create 8,500 new businesses, per NPR. The FTC voted 3-1 to vacate its defense of the rule, with Chair Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak, both Republicans, issuing a joint statement. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the lone remaining Democrat on the commission after Trump purged the FTC earlier this year, voted no.* Turning to foreign affairs, the Guardian reports two ships in the Gaza aid flotilla have been struck by drone attacks while docked in Tunisia. The first struck the Family Boat, which carries activist Greta Thunberg, though she was not on board at the time. The second struck the Alma, a ship bearing British flags while docked in the port of Sidi Bou Said. In a video, one can see, “a luminous object hitting the boat and fire erupting on board.” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, is quoted saying, ‘‘Authoritative sources suggest the attack involved an incendiary grenade, wrapped in plastic materials soaked in fuel, which may have ignited before even hitting the vessel.” These attacks come amidst a renewed Israeli bombing campaign against its neighbors, including bombing the Qatari capital of Doha and the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Trump says he is “very unhappy” about the strikes; Israel's ambassador to the United States however says the world will “get over it.” This from Al Jazeera.* Meanwhile, Drop Site is out with yet another bombshell report, this time on Israel's propaganda push to cover up the scale of the hunger crisis in Gaza. According to this report, the Netanyahu government signed a previously unreported $45 million deal with Google to push false propaganda through the massive platform. One video, viewed more than 6 million times, asserts “There is food in Gaza. Any other claim is a lie.” Israel also reportedly paid $3 million for an ad campaign on X, formerly Twitter, and another $2 million on a French platform called Outbrain. This report also cites other examples of Israeli propaganda campaigns in recent years, including against UNRWA and regarding the illegal strikes in Iran.* In more positive news, the pro-Palestine campaign in Hollywood continues to grow. This week, Variety reports a group of over 3,900 filmmakers, actors and other industry professionals signed a new pledge to boycott working with “Israeli film institutions and companies that are ‘implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.'” This group includes many household names, such as Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Glazer, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Emma Stone, Boots Riley, Ayo Edebiri, and many, many more. The list continues to grow as this pledge circulates. According to the Hollywood Reporter, this campaign is led by Film Workers for Palestine, which explicitly modeled their strategy after Filmmakers United Against Apartheid. That group, founded by eminent filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, demanded that the film industry refuse distribution in apartheid South Africa.* Beyond Israel/Palestine, events are rocking Nepal, the small Himalayan nation that lies between India and China. The BBC reports “Fierce protests against corruption and nepotism spiralled into arson and violence on Tuesday. The prime minister resigned as politicians' homes were vandalised, government buildings torched and parliament set ablaze. Twenty-nine people have died since Monday.” The "Gen Z" youth groups leading the protests have distanced themselves from these acts of destruction, claiming their movement was "hijacked" by "opportunists". Nepal's military has been deployed in the capital of Kathmandu in an attempt to restore order and enforce a curfew. The government of Nepal, led by now-ousted Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, sought to cultivate a closer relationship with China to offset Nepal's historical dependence on India. For the time being, China seems to be taking a wait and see approach to the situation in Nepal, with foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian calling for all parties to “properly handle domestic issues and restore social order and national stability as soon as possible,” per the South China Morning Post.* Finally, Democracy Now! reports that in an apparent fit of retaliation, the Trump administration is now threatening to redeport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the American green card holder recently returned from his wrongful deportation to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison. This time, instead of sending him to El Salvador, the government plans to send Garcia to the tiny African kingdom of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland. Garcia had previously expressed fear of being deported to Uganda. This move would surely be punitive, capricious and just plain bizarre, but that is hardly a deviation from the course of the Trump administration. We express solidarity with Garcia, who stands practically alone against the juggernaut of the United States' deportation apparatus.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
In 1973, Mike Gapes returns from a relaxing "Gape Year" in Swaziland to find that his beloved Ilford South has changed beyond all recognition. What was once a paradise of Real Labour Values has succumbed to entryism at the hands of the sinister forces of Trotskyism, and only Gapes and his trusty team of Gape Goon Generals - including fascist borstal headmaster Frank Young, escaped fascist war criminal Stormzy, newspaper editor Jimothy Baker Sr., notorious rock and roll innovator Johnny Polio, GapesMobile chauffer Gorgeous Georgie, Graham Goodnonce, Dr. Geoffrey Garmer and Geraint Gestapo - can save it from certain ruin, in what is easily in the top hundred bloodiest military campaigns ever supported by Michael John Gapes. WRITTEN by FFF WITH JACK FR PRODUCED by JACK FR ("MAHJONG SCENE" PRODUCED BY FFF) ORIGINAL MUSIC by JACK FR ORIGINAL ARTWORK by @MARKEDASRED EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS FFF, JACK FR, G. WARIOTIFO, YAIR RICE, TOM FOSTER, TOM DISSO & @PHASED_BEMUSED STARRING JACK FR as MIKE GAPES, ILFORD SOUTH POLICE OFFICER, ROGER RABBIT, LUIGI, GORGEOUS GEORGIE, GREASE CHORUS, JIMOTHY'S FRIEND, EMCEE, JOHNNY POLIO, FALLING CHILD, GERAINT GESTAPO, STORMZY, JIMMY BUFFETT, MURDERED TROTS, GOONS AT FUNERAL and WOODY ALLEN FFF as AIR STEWARD(ESS), "HANDSOME STRAIGHT JERRY", GOON #1, HIMSELF, JIMOTHY BAKER SR., CRICKET ANNOUNCER, JIMOTHY'S FRIEND, LITTLE GIRL, GRAHAM GOODNONCE, GEOFFREY GARMER, REMEMBRANCE PARADE ANNOUNCER and MILITANT TROT
This is episode 238 and it's going to be full of legal back and forth, all about the Langalibalele Rebellion, another little war as the London times called it — it's action at Bushman's River Pass after which British engineers will be sent to blow up bits of the Drakensberg. In 1873 Benjamin Chilly Campbell Pine was reappointed as Lieutenant-Governor of Natal. Pine was a career officer in the British Colonial Services, and this was the second time he was taking up the post of Lieutenant Governor in Natal. His first stint was logged between April 1850 to March 1855 and Pinetown on the hills above Durban is named after him. Then he spent time in the Gold Coast in Ghana, then the West Indies, as Governor of the Leeward Islands and Antigua. His second stint was cut short largely because of how he was going to deal with the Langalibalele affair. Two other colonials will feature through our story this episode, one being Theophilus Shepstone the Secretary of Native Affairs in Natal, and the other was Bishop John Colenso who was a liberal humanist and the implacable enemy of most British settlers. Pine's administration had to contend with the "Shepstone System," a policy of indirect rule developed by Theophilus Shepstone. This controversially separated African and European populations and was a dominant force in Natal's governance during Pine's tenure. While Pine and Shepstone collaborated, their administrations also faced criticism from white settlers over issues of land, labor, and the financing of native policy. The other main character of our tale today was Langalibalele, the hereditary chief of the Hlubi tribe from around 1836. After fleeing Zululand in 1849, he and his fellow refugees were granted land by the colonial authorities in the Escourt District, west of the town along the Msuluzi and Mtshezi Rivers. The town was laid out by Colonel Estcourt In 1847 and named after the British officer. The land the amaHlubi were handed was technically not for free, their obligations included protecting the colony from the San Raiders some galloping in from as far away as the Maluti Mountains. Langalibalele and his people were part of the Shepstone System, granted their own territory seperated from white farms. Ten years after arriving in their fertile rolling hills, Langalibalele headed off to Iswatini, Swaziland, where he'd fetched his head wife, uMzamose in 1857. There was some confusion about what the amaHlubi were expected to do. Essentially, their role was to form a buffer zone in the region and were even presented with some guns for that purpose, and once jobs opened up on the diamond mines, hundreds of amaHlubi men headed off to labour in Griqualand West, returning with valuable goods like horses, and more guns. The people flourished through the 1860s and into the early 1870s and were at peace with the colonial farmers, growing from 7 000 to 10 000 souls, with 15 000 head of cattle. The original 364 square kilometres of their land extended to more than 700 square kilometres. But the relationship with the British was riven by confusion and distrust. Natal was isolated from the hinterland by the formidabble Drakensberg Mountains, and was surrounded by black nations, thus increasing the paranoia of the settlers. The amaThembu and Xhosa to the south were respected, not to mention the amaZulu to the north East. Communication with the Cape was slow along the few roads and by sea, there were also few transport corridors in Natal itself which engendering a feeling of insecurity among the colonists.In Early March 1873 John Macfarlane singled Langalibalele and the amaHlubi out and demanded the registration of their guns in terms of Law 5. Langalibalele said he was too busy and suffering from an illness, and could not be expected to head off across such as vast area looking for his 2000 men and counting their guns. A war was brewing.
Jesus Delivers Us (13) (audio) David Eells – 8/31/25 Saints, I'm going to continue with our teaching on how Jesus delivers us and our authority over the demons. I'm going to pick up where we left off last time about the true and false manifestations of the Spirit and begin by sharing the following testimony called: More Than We Can Imagine or Think by P.O. I was one of thousands of people who wanted to experience "revival" in Brownsville and Toronto. As a fairly new Christian, I wanted the excitement that I thought should come from living a life for God. My prayer during that time was: "Father, do whatever You need to do so that no man or no devil can ever quench my desire for You." The first few visits there, I came away somewhat frustrated. Every time a minister approached me, he would veer away and start the laying on of hands in another direction. I recognize now that this was the grace of God, keeping me from receiving wrong impartations. But one time when we were leaving, I forgot my cape. I returned for it and tried to walk through a large lobby full of people writhing on the floor. Something invisible hit me. I fell to the floor and felt heat, like electricity, start at my feet and work all the way up to my head. I became temporarily but totally paralyzed. A friend who had followed me reported afterward that he saw my eyes roll. This man, a medic in the army, picked me up in his arms to remove me. But the strapping, six-footer made it only to the outside steps. There he, too, was taken down to the ground by this spirit. When he dropped me, I rolled under a small tree. Looking up, I saw the stars like diamonds and trees in 3-D as if "the trees were indeed clapping their hands" as the Word describes. I wanted to praise God, but I was rendered incapable of doing anything but baying like one of my uncle's hound dogs. My heart goes out to my friends who visited the "revival." Three of them died prematurely. Another four of them divorced within a year. Several of them now have serious health concerns. In short, these people are anything BUT revived. With some of these friends, I tried gently to get them to look at the falsehoods. But no. It was like the old saying, "You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink." The times I tried, I encountered upturned noses, so to speak. My dearest friend, whom I met thirty-eight years ago, lived at one of the revival venues for months. She no longer returns my calls. I don't know why this is the case, since we aren't talking. But I suspect that she just couldn't handle the upturns that my life, and my children's lives, kept taking as opposed to her own. I'll always love her. She prayed for me when I wasn't even a believer. God will save her from this deception. At first I thought the experience had been the Holy Spirit. But, sparing the details, my life began to fall apart. I kept crying out for truth, the truth, nothing but the truth. Somehow, I was led via an internet science site to the e-book called "Sovereign God." I "inhaled" it. God's truth revealed in that book healed me of lifelong bouts of severe depression. Then, via the internet, I saw that people around the world were getting their vision healed. I thought, "God is no respecter of persons. Father, would you heal my vision?" It was a progressive miracle, full of dialogue with Him. After a trial of several months, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles pronounced me as having near-perfect vision. Father God also engineered that my unbelieving daughter would be present to hear the verdict. All my life, I'd had progressively poorer vision, ending with 20-200, which the state of Indiana considered as legally blind. God is able to do abundantly over and beyond what we can imagine or think. In His sovereignty, Father brought me through into the truth. He has orchestrated major periods of repenting and casting out of spirits revealed to me. By the grace of God, my marriage is thriving like never before. My blind eyes are healed. My depression is gone. I have hair now. I actually feel beautiful, but it's not of myself. It's Jesus, coming from the inside out. My children are fighting and winning for their marriages. I'm no longer fat. I have a room with a view. In this room, I help build God's Kingdom with the gifts He's given me. I'm welcomed at foreign airports with bouquets of flowers, like I'm some royal person. I'm surrounded by a vibrant company of other believers who cherish one another every day of the week. None of these blessings came as a result of the revival movement that so many people, including myself, touted for a while. All of these blessings are just "by-products" of a graceful God who loves me. He gave me the hunger and the unction to seek and find Him. Reading that blessing list, an unknowing person might say that I've won life's lottery. But it is all nothing compared to the fact that ... I have Jesus. I hope and pray you do, too. And here is another awesome testimony of God's amazing grace, called: Delivered & Made Whole by C.M. As a young adult I was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr, chronic fatigue syndrome. For almost two years I would have to sleep at least twelve hours per day to barely function. Having visited every specialist, I was given no hope, other than just to deal with it and get rest. As a child I was taught about the Lord, even experiencing a vision of heaven at the age of seven years. I had been healed of a toothache during that vision. But when my dad left, our family fell apart, and our faith slowly faded away. By the time I was twenty-one years old, the Bible was in my closet, unread in years. One night I cried out to the Lord while remembering a story told to me when I was a child. A woman in the Bible was healed of her blood flow of twelve years. As I was begging the Lord to let me touch His garment just like that woman, I felt such a hot flow of heat through my body! I knew I was healed. The Lord let me feel that heat to help my faith. Within twenty-four hours, I felt completely better! I told everyone. People said it was just psychological—I had healed myself. But I knew better. I started reading my Bible as a babe in Christ. Almost two years later, I did join a church. I was reading the Bible regularly, but I started practicing yoga. I even became a yoga instructor, certified in sport yoga. I knew yoga had Eastern philosophies, but I thought if I just did the exercise part, I would be okay. I even asked my pastor. To my surprise, I had his support as long as it was just for exercise. Another elder even encouraged Tai Chi, another Eastern philosophy of exercise. Yoga was the pathway to all of the other Eastern philosophies: Tai Chi, hypnotherapy, and Reiki, the bringing of "energy" from the universe into your body. After two years of practicing yoga and getting involved with Reiki, I met a bold woman of Christ named Jane. She informed me of my backsliding. Jane insisted that I pray and get right with God and speak to her husband. He had knowledge of the occult. The word "backsliding" kept ringing in my ears from this woman. I had thought exercising was okay. After looking up the word "backsliding" in the concordance, I was directed to Jeremiah Chapters 3-6. The Lord showed me that night that I had left the Lord for the harlot. I felt the Lord's anger with me for what I was doing. After the Lord opened my eyes that night, I discarded everything that had to do with yoga: the music, clothes, DVDs, my teaching certification, books, equipment, mat, candles, etc. I quit teaching the next day. I visited Jane and her husband, who further explained how yoga is an occult practice. They prayed over me and anointed me with oil. We claimed that I was forgiven and that all the effects of this practice had left me. Praise God for His forgiveness, mercy and love. Now I have given my life to the Lord and have been walking with Him ever since! An undeserved blessing He gave me was a daughter, as I had not been able to have a child. According to the specialists, for fourteen months, I was not ovulating. Within two weeks of giving up yoga, I was pregnant. I am so grateful for God's love and forgiveness. David: Amen! Praise God for all His goodness towards us. It's important to remember that we must continue walking in Christ to obtain the fullness of His salvation. (Mat.24:13) But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. We have to continue in Him to receive what He's laid hold on us for. (Php.3:12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. He laid hold on us to manifest the fullness of Christ, and if we believe the Word, and we keep holding fast to the Word, we're going to enter into more and more of Christ. He is the Word. When we walk in Christ, we have faith to exercise the authority that He's passed on to us, but notice that although Jesus totally conquered the devil (Ephesians 1:20-22), we still see him. Why? It's because the devil still exercises authority. You may ask, "David, how is that possible?" Well, let's look at how that authority has been passed around. God never took back the authority over all creation that He gave to Adam in Gen.1:28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. But God didn't have to take it back; Adam gave it away to the devil! He gave it to the devil by virtue of the fact that he obeyed the devil. (Rom.6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? He made the devil his lord and gave him that authority. We know that the Bible says, "What we bind on earth is bound in heaven," so if the devil can talk us into believing he has authority, then he has it because we gave it to him. We loosed him by believing him, and we bound God by not believing Him, because God made the condition for receiving His benefits, which is our faith. Today, Adam's children have lost their authority because he gave it to satan. However, Jesus is called the "last Adam" because He is the father of the born again creation. Because He refused satan's authority He gained authority back and passed it on to His spiritual children. (1Co 15:22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But Christians need faith to exercise this authority. What does the Bible say? (1Jn.3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. When we walk in Christ, we have faith to exercise our authority, faith to believe what the Bible says about the authority given to us. Adam was a natural man who was given authority over this natural creation. Jesus Christ was called a spiritual man, and He was given authority over this spiritual and natural creation. We just read about the authority God gave to Adam over this natural creation. Most Christians haven't entered into the authority that Adam had as a natural man, much less the authority that Jesus had as a spiritual man. We are supposed to have authority in both places, the natural and the spiritual. (1Co.15:45) So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit. (46) Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. (47) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. (48) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (49) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly. If your Bible has "we shall," it's wrong. There's probably a footnote that tells you the Greek says, "let us also bear the image of the heavenly." We have been given a command to bear "the image of the heavenly." God is not saying that "we shall" because that's not true. A lot of people are not going to bear the "image of the heavenly" because they're going to refuse to do that. We've borne "the image of the earthy" because we've been a natural man, like the first Adam, but to bear "the image of the heavenly" is to bear the Image of the spiritual Adam, Who is Jesus Christ. (Heb.2:5) For not unto angels did he subject the inhabited earth to come... If your Bible says, "the world to come," you probably have a footnote that says "the inhabited earth." This is the correct translation from the Greek according to the numeric pattern. Notice its "the inhabited earth to come" meaning the earth under and following Adam's authority. (Heb.2:5) For not unto angels did he subject the inhabited earth to come, whereof we speak. (6) But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? What was "man"? That was Adam. And who was the "son of man"? That was Adam's children. Jesus was the Son of man and the Son of God. This is talking about both the natural Adam and the spiritual Adam. The spiritual "Adam" is Christ, and so then, who is the "son of man"? That is Christ's children. Adam and his children had authority, and if they hadn't fallen because of sin, they would still have that authority. Jesus has authority and all of His children have the same authority because He is an Adam. He's the Procreator of the whole race of the spiritual man. He's the (Rom.8:29) ... firstborn among many brethren. The Greek word there is adelphos, and it means "brothers." (Gal.3:26) For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. Through faith, we should be living up to our sonship; we should be exercising the authority of the first Son, Jesus Christ, our spiritual Father. (Heb.2:7) Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands. We found that was true of Adam, and it's still true. Jesus exercised authority over the works of God's hands. Just as Adam did in the natural before he fell; Jesus did in the spiritual and natural. There's a natural creation, and there's a spiritual creation beyond the natural creation. Adam had dominion over the works of God's hands; he exercised authority over all the earth, the beasts, the fish, the birds, and so on. However, there are other works of God's hands that Adam didn't know much about: the principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness, the spiritual creation of God (Ephesians 6:12). Because of what Jesus accomplished at the Cross, we've been given authority over not just the natural creation, but the spiritual creation. (Eph.1:19) And what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might (20) which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places], (21) far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Notice that Jesus was the head of His body the Church but He put all things in subjection under the feet of His body. We have this authority as we follow the Head. Our authority over the natural creation and the spiritual creation is given by right of two facts. We have come from the first Adam, and we have come from the second Adam. Both of those have been given authority, and that authority has been passed on to us, but the only way you can exercise that authority is to believe what the Word of God says. All of this has been put under your feet; you have complete sovereignty over it as you follow the Head. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Notice: "Behold, I have given you authority ... over all the power of the enemy." Here's another witness that God has put all things in subjection under His feet: (Heb.2:8) Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. (Primarily, He was talking about Adam and his children. Secondarily, He's talking about Christ and His children.) But now we see not yet all things subjected to him. In other words, it's a fact that Jesus conquered the devil and gave us authority over him, but it's also a fact that we haven't exercised that authority. (Heb.2:9) But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, [even] Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every [man]. (10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory (These are His sons.), to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one (We have one Father.): for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. So you see, we are sons of God first by faith and then by manifestation. Jesus, as the second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:47), received this authority from God over all of creation, and we are in Him. As end-time saints, we are in Him as His body and even the lowest member, the "feet," have been given authority to "stomp" on the devil's kingdom. (Rom.16:20) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. We've been given this authority, so what's the holdup here? The holdup is for us to be convinced about what the Bible says in black and white. It isn't a deep revelation; it's in the letter of the Word, and we need to step out and start exercising our authority according to His Word by faith. We have dominion over all the works of God's hand! It makes no sense to think God would have given this dominion to Adam, a physical, natural creation, but would not have given it to His spiritual creation, sons born after the Image of Jesus Christ. Start imagining yourself as a son of God with authority. See yourself that way. (Psa.8:4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? (In other words, why would you pay any attention to man?) And the son of man (That's not only Adam, but his children. That's not only Christ, but His children.), that thou visitest him? (Psa.8:5) For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor. (6) Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field, (8) The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. Do you remember when the disciples had been fishing all night without catching anything until the Lord commanded the fish into their net? (Joh.21:6) And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. And (Psa.8:9) O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Our words and actions must agree with God's Word. Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2 are parallel in speaking about Adam and his children, and Christ and His children, both having dominion over the work of God's hands. Everything Jesus said agrees with this. (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Because we don't understand this principle, we are continually loosing the devil to terrorize us. We are continually loosing the curse to take dominion over us. We are continually doing this because we are disagreeing with the Word of God. This is what happens when we speak contrary to the Word of God, and we act contrary to the Word of God. Many of God's people don't yet understand that they have this authority to loose the devil. They loose him when they disagree with God's Word. They loose him when they agree with these spirits that rule over the lusts of the flesh. If you agree with them, they are going to rule over you, as with Adam and Eve. We have authority over the work of God's hands. We have authority over the things that God has given us. We have authority over our automobiles and our washing machines; literally anything we have stewardship of. It doesn't make any difference what it is; we have authority. Some of you have exercised your authority and commanded healing for people, and God healed them, or you've commanded healing over broken appliances or cars, and God healed them, too. What we have to do is be convinced that we have the authority of creative power in us. (Joh.20:21) Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. This means that the Father sent Jesus with authority over the works of His hands, and everywhere He went, He exercised authority. And He said, "Even so send I you." He sent us with that same authority. (Mat.28:18) And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go ye therefore... Why did He say that? He said it because He was passing that authority on to His disciples. (Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: (Just in case you believe this was only for the Apostles, He addresses all nations of disciples saying this.) 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you (so we all have the authority they had.): and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. And in another Gospel He said in (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe... "Them that believe" includes every believer. Every believer has authority in the second heaven, too. That's where Satan rules, and he reaches from the second heaven into the first heaven to rule as prince of the powers of the air in this world (Ephesians 2:2). We can read that here, where Jesus talks to Peter and the disciples. (Mat.16:18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven... What Matthew 16:19 actually says in the original is "the kingdom of the heavens." Over in Matthew 18:18, which we've looked at, the word used is "heaven," singular, because it's only talking about the third heaven, but Matthew 16 is talking about all the "heavens," plural. It says in the Nestle's Text, the three most ancient manuscripts, "the kingdom of the heavens." It says in the Numeric English New Testament, "the kingdom of the heavens." Other translations just haven't copied it correctly. This verse correctly reads, (Mat.16:19) I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens... That means you are binding in the second heaven too. But even in the third heaven we bind or loose by unbelief or faith. The devil is hidden from us in the second heaven, another realm, and he rules from there as prince of the power of the air in the first heaven, but we have authority in the realm of the second heaven when we obey the principles of God's Word. (Mat.16:19) I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens. That doesn't say that we are going to destroy everything the devil does because God doesn't want to do that. God sent the devil here to administer the curse, such as when apostle Paul turned a man over to Satan (1Co.5:5) ... for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. God still does this today, so He doesn't want to destroy the power of the devil. God wants to destroy the power of the devil in the life of the believer. Jesus didn't give the keys to just Peter, as some people mistakenly read this verse. Jesus was talking to all of His disciples. (Mat.16:20) Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ. What made Jesus speak of Peter in the first place? It was because of what Peter had spoken. (Mat.16:13) Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? (14) And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. He wasn't talking about Peter alone. What was shown to Peter was the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. This was the rock. Everybody who is saved has gotten that revelation. It is a foundational revelation. Everybody with that revelation has authority if they believe. This is the "key of David." (Isa.22:22) And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Everybody who is saved has the key of the Kingdom of Heaven but only a few will manifest it. (Rev.3:7) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth. Jesus in the believer has the authority of the key of David. "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." The name "Peter" is the Greek word petros, which means "a small rock or stone such as a man may throw." We are all one of these. But the Greek word for "rock" in this verse is petra, and it means "a huge mass of rock (a boulder), such as a projecting cliff." All of us small rocks who make up the body of Christ could also corporately be this huge Rock. Peter himself said that Jesus was the Rock. (1Pe.2:3) If ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: (4) unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, (5) ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. (7) For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; (8) and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. Peter said that we are "living stones" and all of the disciples are "living stones." Peter didn't believe that he was the huge Rock. We are living stones in God's building, and that whole building is petra, a mass of rock. Jesus is the foundation of the building of the Body of Christ. He is the Chief Corner Stone, which is missing from the Great Pyramid because He is in heaven, but that Chief Corner Stone also looks like the rest of the building, which is the body of Christ. He is the Foundation and the Head, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13), and the many stones are His body, just like the Great Pyramid represents. [Note: According to Josephus, the Great Pyramid is a prophecy built by Enoch and his sons.] Peter didn't exercise any more authority than the rest of the apostles. God gave all of His disciples the authority to bind things in the second heaven (Ephesians 2:2), things in the third heaven (Matthew 24:31; 2 Corinthians 12:2), and things in the first heaven (Mark 13:27). God's peopare not doing the works of Jesus Christ because they don't realize this authority is also theirs. We need to get this understanding down in our hearts because the devil's been given authority from God to make war on the saints. God sent an adversary so that not only would we learn to fight, but we would learn to fight and win! Did you know that if you fight the devil, you are going to be warring with your flesh? When you fight the spirit of fear, you are going to conquer fear in yourself. If you fight the spirit of lust, you are going to conquer lust in yourself. God has to send the devil because he reveals to you what is inside you. When you come against him by faith, you are not only consuming the lusts, you are not only plundering the devil's kingdom as far as the ground that he has taken in your life, but you are plundering him (Matthew 12:25-30; Mark 3:20-27; Luke 11:14-23). You are overcoming his spirits. Take your Promised Land. Conquer the carnal man that lives in it. Use the authority God gave you! This is your God-given right! Praise the Lord! Now, let me share another wonderful testimony with you called: Faith in God's Word Plundered the Devil by sister L.W. About a year ago, the Lord showed me that I had a spirit of rejection. I received it through the bloodline of my dad. My grandparents tried to abort him. His siblings constantly reminded him that he was not wanted. The spirit of rejection took all my life experiences and twisted them in my head. It made me take everything personally and made me perceive its version of the truth instead of reality. Kids are cruel in school, and everybody is picked on in some way. They picked on me because I'm a redhead. So I saw my hair as a physical disfigurement. I thought if I were pretty, people would like me despite the color of my hair. When I would get beaten up by the boys after school, I thought I was the only one getting picked on. I didn't have any black eyes but there was a lot of hair-pulling, kicking, biting, scratching, and punching. I thought it was all because of the color of my hair. And I thought because I was different, I would never be accepted; and I hated myself and my hair. During this time, I developed nervous facial tics. My mom told me to stop, but I told her that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't. I told her my face would feel extremely funny and the only relief was to allow the tic. She told me to rub my face every time I felt that and I did. The Most High God had mercy on me and broke the nervous tics that very instant, and I was immediately delivered. A couple of years later in the summer, I woke up and the left side of my face was paralyzed and felt heavy. When I would blink, my left eye wouldn't close. When I smiled, only half my face would smile. My dad thought I was just making funny faces and told me if I didn't stop my face would stick. But very quickly, he realized this was a serious medical condition. The doctors discovered I had Bell's Palsy and informed us there was no cure and that I would have to live with this the rest of my life. Later, I asked my parents if that was really true. Would I have to live with this the rest of my life? I felt ugly enough having red hair, without adding a paralyzed face to the equation. And they said, "We serve a God who heals. He is a healing God." Being a child, I thought my parents were smarter than the doctors. So I put my faith in what they told me and ignored what the doctors said. The Lord completely healed my face within seven days. The doctors were stunned. The healing was so complete, there is not even the slightest trace even to this very day, despite the doctors' report. When my parents became missionaries to Swaziland, I was so ecstatic, looking forward to a fresh start. Maybe there they would accept my red hair. Little did I know that the country we were going to believed people with red hair were witch doctors. Now, not only did the color of my hair stand out, but the color of my skin, too. I was really different. I felt I would never fit in. I didn't know the language and couldn't understand their accent—even when they spoke in English. The Swazi kids were actually loving and gentle, unlike the American kids, and they were intrigued by me. They wanted to touch my hair and skin and smell me, but I felt intimidated. (After my sister read this testimony, she told me those Swazi kids loved me and loved playing marbles with me during recess.) The love they gave me, the spirit of rejection stole from me. I thought I was the dumbest one in my class. The standard of schooling was much higher than in the States, and the kids laughed at me because I didn't know the answers when the teacher called on me. Inevitably, there was always somebody who had pity on me and whispered the answer to me. The spirit of rejection twisted my thoughts. Once again I felt rejected. I was a loner. I thought there was something wrong with me because I was dumb. I wanted to be anybody else but me. Because there was no high school in the country we lived in, I was forced to go to boarding school. I went to an all-white, all-girls high school in South Africa. Suddenly, my hair became my greatest asset. I became interested in fashion and beauty and surrounded myself with prim and proper British tea-drinking girls who were gossips and snobs. I was the queen of beauty secrets, sharing them with everybody. Even during my short-lived popularity, inside I still felt dumb and ugly. I felt I was the object of gossip and that the girls were looking down their noses at me. After three years of boarding school, my family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa. I was finally able to live at home with my parents and go to a public school. No longer was I surrounded by prim and proper British girls, but fighting Jezebels. My sister and I rode the school bus. The Jezebels would not allow us to sit, even though there was a vacant seat. They said the seats were reserved. I was determined to sit because I didn't want to have to stand through high school. The girls converged on my sister and me. They pulled our hair, tore our dresses, kicked, scratched, bit, punched and burned us with their cigarettes. I stood up for myself and protected my sister. At that point in my life, I didn't know to turn the other cheek. I prayed and asked God to give me strength. After a while, they gave up. After I graduated from high school, I returned to the States to go to college. Before school started, I lived a few months with relatives. During those months, the spirit of rejection made me feel more alone than ever. Even though I had returned to the land of my birth, I realized I had become a foreigner. I was stranger than ever. My clothes were the latest in fashion in Europe, but they just didn't go in Wyoming. There was nothing indecent about them, but a pastor's wife wrote a letter to my parents stating I looked like a streetwalker and carbon copied it to the church headquarters. Apparently, nothing but jeans, cowboy boots, or tennis shoes was accepted. My clothes were too colorful and different. The day finally came when I was able to go to college and move into the dorm. God blessed me with a fabulous roommate and we became immediate friends. She helped me adjust to the American way of life. I became more confident. I finally started having fun, but didn't study enough; I got kicked out of two church colleges with which my parents were affiliated. I was labeled a rogue missionary kid who dressed like a streetwalker. In my shame, I went back home to South Africa. All my life I was judged by my hair and now I have begun to judge other people by their hair. One night I dreamed I was walking on a busy sidewalk in a big city. The sidewalk was crowded with people walking to and fro. There was a long, green snake gliding at shoulder level. When our eyes met, he immediately came at me and coiled himself tightly around my ponytail. I grabbed him with my right hand and tried to pull him out of my hair, but he was coiled so tightly, he wouldn't budge. I woke up. At this time, I didn't know anything about the importance of dreams. But it was so vivid that I never forgot it. Eventually, my head started to itch and burn. I thought to myself, "Whatever you do, never itch in public." I didn't want to act like the baboons in Africa, always scratching. A couple of years went by and ridges started to form on my scalp, but I ignored it. Later, I got married and moved into my husband's house. Within a week, I realized I had made a huge mistake. He became physically abusive and would often kick me out. In an effort not to worry my parents and hide my shame, I spent the nights at a hotel and kept going back. The abuse became more frequent. I felt like I was having a nightmare and couldn't wake up. It became increasingly difficult to hide the abuse from my family and from work. I found out he was addicted to pornography (that's why he would kick me out). I thought I had married a Christian. One morning, he came at me with full force. I couldn't get away because he was so much bigger and stronger. I grabbed the phone and dialed 9-1-1, but he slammed the receiver down. "God, get me out of here. Help me!" I cried. A few minutes later, a police car pulled up. Shocked, I didn't recognize myself when I looked in the mirror that day. Somebody else was staring at me! We had only been married four months, four days. This was the ultimate rejection and betrayal. For the next two and a half years, we were separated, but trying to work things out. Even during that time, he was physically abusive. My family was afraid he was going to kill me. When I was with him, they would often call. If I did not answer, they would call the police. It ended in divorce. I went to my mom's beauty shop for a haircut. She told me I needed to see the dermatologist because the ridges at the crown of my head had turned a reddish purple. The dermatologist did a biopsy and discovered I had a rare condition called Pseudopelade of Brocq. She gave me little green pills to take. The first morning I took one, I was doubled over in pain within 20 minutes. No matter how hard I tried to take those pills, I was never able to keep them down. I called the dermatologist to ask her what the pills were supposed to do. She said they wouldn't cure my scalp condition—they would only stop the burning and itching. I threw those useless pills out. They were not going to free me from the green snake coiled up in my hair. The name of that snake is Jealousy. When the LORD showed me the root cause of the problem, I repented from my sins of pride and vanity. (Isa.3:16) Moreover, the Lord said, Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And tinkle the bangles on their feet, (17) Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the Lord will make their foreheads bare. (24) ... Instead of wellset hair, a plucked-out scalp. I lived under a mountain of condemnation. No matter how much I forgave and repented of my sins, I always felt like God was mad at me. I am the elder of two girls and I felt like I was Esau and my sister was Jacob. (Heb.12:17) For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. (Rom.9:13) Just as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. I was jealous of my sister. I felt like I was Leah and my sister was Rachel. I was unloved and my sister was loved. I was the one who had weak eyes and couldn't please my Heavenly Father, while my sister was given wisdom and favor with God and man. The LORD gave me: (Gal.3:27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. This verse changed my life. A year before this, my dad baptized me into Jesus Christ, which meant I fulfilled the beginning of the verse. If I was baptized into Jesus Christ, then I was clothed with Christ! I was bouncing off the walls! I was firmly convinced I was clothed with Christ. I told my family about that verse, confessing I was clothed in Christ. My dad and sister said I still had to manifestly be clothed in Christ. I told them that's not what the verse said. It was a very plain and simple verse. I understood it perfectly and I wasn't budging from my stance. I was so ecstatic over that verse and I told them with a huge smile on my face, "Nobody can talk me out of that promise." My mom turned to me and said, "Grab onto that promise with your stubborn mentality and don't let go." The next morning, something flew out of my left nostril with extreme force, waking me up. I heard the sound of a loud rushing wind and physically felt the force. Whatever it was hit my window and caused it to rattle. I jumped out of bed, expecting to see a broken window, but it was completely intact. That had never happened to me before, but I knew I didn't imagine or dream it. I told my family what happened. My dad said a demon was evicted because of my believing that verse. I was so happy! I became obsessed with cleansing myself from all defilement of flesh and spirit. By this time, my dad and sister were listening to me. A few mornings later while sleeping, my whole body cramped up painfully and then relaxed, causing me to wake up. I called my dad, crying on the phone, because I was afraid the demon had come back. He said the demon hadn't come back, but another demon had left and wracked my body on his departure. He said demons typically do that when they leave. I was so happy, jumping up and down, praising Jesus. A few days later, my chest still hurt. I had a big bruise on it to remind me of my deliverance. It was simply a gift Father gave me to believe His Word. His Word is true. When you submit yourself to God, the devil will flee from you. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God: but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I learned the importance of meditating on the word. Each night I would pick a verse. I came across (Sol.4:1) ...Your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead. Because of my hair and scalp condition, I was always attracted to any scripture that dealt with hair. I knew there was a spiritual meaning, but I didn't know what it was. Despite not understanding this verse, I was going to meditate on it anyway. I imagined my hair being like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. As I meditated, I heard a voice that sounded like my own say, "Don't do that!" I flew out of bed and turned on the light. I looked under my pillows and tore my whole bed apart looking for something, but I knew not what. I realized it was a demon using my voice. He didn't like me meditating on that verse. I thought, "Stupid demon. If that verse is causing such an uproar with a demon, I'll meditate on it every waking moment!" The next day as I was meditating on the verse, I heard another voice squeal my name. The Word of God is alive! A few weeks later, my mom commented that there was a huge improvement while cutting my hair at the beauty shop. She said an amazing thing was happening—my hair was growing in thick and long. (Sol.7:5) Your head crowns you like Carmel, And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads; The king is captivated by your tresses. It's easy to see the faults in other people, but it's difficult to see the faults in yourself. I decided to ask my sister what my problem was because I knew she would be brutally honest. She told me I had a spirit of rejection. She said that a demon was the cause of my scalp condition, and that I was easily offended and it manifested in my scalp being irritated and tender. I decided to take her at her word and fight the spirit of rejection. My sister showed me this scripture: (Luk.21:12) But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. (13) It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. (14) So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; (15) for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. (16) But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, (17) and you will be hated by all because of My name. (18) Yet not a hair of your head will perish. Suffering rejection is a part of taking up your cross and following Jesus. It's forgiving those who do you wrong and turning the other cheek. A few weeks later I was at the mall with my family. I saw a really neat soap dispenser that I thought my mom should buy, but she said she didn't like it. Then I saw a perfect soap dispenser for my sister's bathroom, but she didn't like it either. The words, "So what's wrong with MY soap dispenser," flew out of my mouth! I was hearing them for the first time myself. I realized what I said was so outrageous and so unreasonable. For the first time, I saw how easily I was offended. I finally saw for myself the spirit of rejection in me. One night, I asked Father for a scripture by lot: (Luk.9:42) While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. I thought Jesus did it for the boy only and I wanted Him to do it for me. But then my sister showed me Jesus' words: (Mar.13:37) What I say to you I say to all. I was ecstatic! Jesus rebuked the spirit of rejection in me and healed me and gave me back to my Heavenly Father. The spirit of condemnation would overwhelm me. One night while meditating on (Rom.6:11) Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, another demon flew out from behind my right ear with force. I felt and heard a major vibration. I couldn't wait to tell my family. And I said to my sister, "You wouldn't believe what happened to me last night!" She asked, "Now what flew out of you?" (Luk.11:20) But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. I devoured the audio series, "The Curse of Unforgiveness" and I followed along in my Bible, highlighted scriptures, wrote notes and searched my heart for any unforgiveness that may have been lurking. I also devoured the audio series, "Overcoming Sin." I was on a mission to completely rid myself of the spirits of rejection, judgment and condemnation. I became obsessed with (2Co.7:1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Early one morning I dreamed I had bloodstains all over me. A little boy with blonde hair said to me, "Let me help you." I woke up, desperately wanting help! Immediately, when David Eells started the Bible study, "Deliverance from Rejection and Its Fear," I knew he was talking to me! The Man-child was helping me. My deliverance was already accomplished! I was set free from the spirit of rejection and condemnation! The mental torment has been removed from my mind. My family will no longer have to tread lightly. My Heavenly Father poured His love into me. I finally felt His acceptance. I was no longer rejected, but accepted. (Isa.43:3) For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. (4) Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. How can I possibly feel rejected? (Rom.8:31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? I had been burnt to a crisp. But I learned the ashes of burning the wood, hay and stubble mixed with the water of the Word was a potent purifying cleanser, which is exactly what I needed. (Num.19:9) Now a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the sons of Israel shall keep it as water to remove impurity; it is purification from sin. (Act.11:9) But a voice from heaven answered a second time, What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. L.W.'s Prayer: Father, Have Mercy ... Father, I ask You, for anyone out there who is in bondage to sin, needing a healing, needing a restoration in their family, needing a restoration of fellowship, that You will convict them of their sins. Convict them to go and make things right with their brethren. If they've done sin, if they're unforgiving, whatever, convict them to go and make things right with their brethren and then come to You for their benefits: healing, deliverance, blessing, whatever, Lord. We thank you, Lord, for putting Your faith and conviction in hearts. Some are very hardened in their heart, Lord. We ask you to have mercy. Restore their consciences. Grant them this gift to be bold to confess their sins so that You may bless and preserve them and heal and deliver them. Father, we ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. David: Yes, Amen! Our Lord Jesus has said in (Mat.6:15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Without the Father's forgiveness, we are living under the curse. (Mat.18:32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The tormentors are the demons who administer the curse, which is partially described in Deuteronomy 28. Many are living under this and think it normal, but Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... (Gal.3:13). Therefore, it would be of great benefit to you, saints, to also read or listen to these teachings. Deliverance From Rejection and its Fear https://ubm1.org/?page=deliverance The Curse of Unforgiveness http://www.ubm1.org/books/pdf/TCOU.pdf https://www.ubm1.org/?page=sabs-onehour
« Arrivée de la première vague de migrants en provenance des États-Unis » titre Walf.net, au Sénégal. Même si l'on ne peut guère parler de « vague » puisqu'il ne s'agit en tout et pour tout que de sept personnes, dont l'identité et la nationalité n'ont pas été révélées. « Le Rwanda », précise Africanews, « est l'un des quatre pays africains à avoir signé des accords d'expulsion avec Washington, les autres étant l'Ouganda, le Swaziland et le Soudan du Sud ». Que vont devenir ces migrants arrivés au Rwanda ? Selon Yolande Makolo, porte-parole du gouvernement rwandais, « trois de ces personnes ont exprimé le souhait de retourner dans leur pays d'origine, tandis que quatre souhaitent rester au Rwanda et y construire leur vie ». Ces personnes qui seront autorisées à rester au Rwanda, « bénéficieront d'un logement, d'une formation professionnelle et des services de santé » a également assuré la porte-parole du gouvernement rwandais. Reste que ces expulsions attirent la curiosité, car, comme le rappelle Walf.net, « la gestion Trump est particulièrement scrutée en raison des arrangements secrets qu'elle a noués avec des nations africaines pour recevoir des individus expulsés ». Avant le Rwanda, rappelle encore Africanews, les États-Unis avaient expulsé, début juillet, vers le Soudan du Sud « huit hommes originaires du Soudan du Sud, mais aussi de Cuba, du Laos, du Mexique, de Birmanie et du Vietnam. » Fichier électoral A la Une également, le référendum constitutionnel en Guinée. Référendum prévu le 21 septembre prochain. La presse guinéenne se fait l'écho ce matin des statistiques officielles du fichier électoral dévoilées hier par le ministère de l'Administration du territoire et de la Décentralisation. « Plus de 6,7 millions d'inscrits » titre Ledjely selon lequel les statistiques, « révèlent une forte participation féminine et une implication notable de la diaspora ». « Plus de 6 millions d'électeurs attendus aux urnes », titre de son côté Guinée 7, qui précise que « la publication de ces chiffres marque la fin du processus de révision et de correction des listes électorales ». Aminata relève par ailleurs que « la campagne référendaire débutera ce dimanche à minuit, et qu'elle s'achèvera le 18 septembre ». Un référendum qui se déroulera, alors que les principaux partis d'opposition viennent d'être suspendus. « Une décision, estime Jeune Afrique, qui accentue l'étau politique et soulève la question de la capacité de mobilisation de l'opposition, qui a néanmoins appelé à des manifestations ». Maîtrise de soi Enfin, au Maroc, on se prépare à participer à la flottille internationale qui doit prendre, dimanche, la direction de Gaza. Le magazine marocain Telquel nous explique « qu'un navire marocain participera à une nouvelle flottille pour dénoncer le blocus de Gaza. » Quarante-quatre pays y participeront. « Baptisée 'flottille mondiale de la résilience', l'initiative vise à acheminer une aide symbolique aux Palestiniens et à alerter l'opinion internationale sur la situation humanitaire dans l'enclave » ajoute Telquel. « Selon les organisateurs, l'engouement a été fort : un grand nombre de citoyens marocains ont exprimé leur volonté de s'impliquer ». « Les participants ont été retenus après un processus de sélection basé, nous dit l'hebdomadaire marocain, sur la sérénité, la maîtrise de soi, la capacité à réagir sous pression, l'endurance psychologique, ainsi que la valeur symbolique et médiatique que chacun peut apporter ». « La délégation marocaine sera répartie en deux équipes », précise encore Telquel. « La première embarquera sur les navires avec un équipage national ainsi que des médecins, des infirmiers, des enseignants chercheurs, des journalistes, des influenceurs, des ingénieurs et des coordinateurs. La seconde se chargera de la logistique, de la communication et du soutien permanent depuis le terrain ».
While I discuss often how I prepared for an emergency while working in the World Trade Center I, of course, did not anticipate anything happening that would threaten my life. However, when a major emergency occurred, I was in fact ready. I escaped and survived. Since September 11, 2001, I have met many people who in one way or another work to help others plan for emergencies. Sometimes these people are taken seriously and, all too often, they are ignored. I never truly understood the difference between emergency preparedness and business continuity until I had the opportunity to have this episode's guest, Chris Miller, on Unstoppable Mindset. I met Chris as a result of a talk I gave in October 2024 at the conference on Resilience sponsored in London England by the Business Continuity Institute. Chris was born and lived in Australia growing up and, in fact, still resides there. After high school she joined the police where she quickly became involved in search and rescue operations. As we learn, she came by this interest honestly as her father and grandfather also were involved in one way or another in law enforcement and search and rescue. Over time Chris became knowledgeable and involved in training people about the concept of emergency preparedness. Later she expanded her horizons to become more involved in business continuity. As Chris explains it, emergency preparedness is more of a macro view of keeping all people safe and emergency preparedness aware. Business Continuity is more of a topic that deals with one business at a time including preparing by customizing preparedness based on the needs of that business. Today Chris is a much sought after consultant. She has helped many businesses, small and large, to develop continuity plans to be invoked in case of emergencies that could come from any direction. About the Guest: Chris has decades of experience in all aspects of emergency and risk management including enterprise risk management. For 20 years, she specialised in ‘full cycle' business continuity management, organisational resilience, facilitating simulation exercises and after-action reviews. From January 2022 to July 2024, Chris worked as a Short-Term Consultant (STC) with the World Bank Group in Timor-Leste, the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and the South Asia Region (SAR) countries – Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. Other clients have ranged in size from 2 to more than 100,000 employees. She has worked with large corporates such as NewsCorp; not for profits; and governments in Australia and beyond. Chris has received several awards for her work in business continuity and emergency management. Chris has presented at more than 100 conferences, facilitated hundreds of workshops and other training, in person and virtually. In 2023, Chris became the first woman to volunteer to become National President and chair the Board of the Australasian Institute of Emergency Services (AIES) in its soon to be 50-year history. Ways to connect with Chris: https://b4crisis.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismillerb4crisis/ with 10+K followers https://x.com/B4Crisis with 1990 followers About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. . Well, hi everyone, and I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and today, I guess we get to talk about the unexpected, because we're going to be chatting with Chris Miller. Chris is in Australia and has been very heavily involved in business continuity and emergency management, and we'll talk about all that. But what that really comes down to is that she gets to deal with helping to try to anticipate the unexpected when it comes to organizations and others in terms of dealing with emergencies and preparing for them. I have a little bit of sympathy and understanding about that myself, as you all know, because of the World Trade Center, and we got to talk about it in London last October at the Business Continuity Institute, which was kind of fun. And so we get to now talk about it some more. So Chris, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Chris Miller ** 02:22 Oh, thanks very much, Michael, and I was very impressed by your presentation, because in the emergency space, preparedness is everything that is the real return on investment. So you were wonderful case study of preparedness. Michael Hingson ** 02:37 Well, thank you. Now I forget were you there or were you listening or watching virtually. Chris Miller ** 02:42 I was virtual that time. I have been there in person for the events in London and elsewhere. Sometimes they're not in London, sometimes in Birmingham and other major cities, yeah, but yeah, I have actually attended in person on one occasion. So it's a long trip to go to London to go. Michael Hingson ** 03:03 Yeah, it is. It's a little bit of a long trip, but still, it's something that, it is a subject worth talking about, needless to say, Chris Miller ** 03:13 Absolutely, and it's one that I've been focusing on for more than 50 years. Michael Hingson ** 03:18 Goodness, well, and emergencies have have been around for even longer, but certainly we've had our share of emergencies in the last 50 years. Chris Miller ** 03:30 Sure have in your country and mine, yeah. Michael Hingson ** 03:34 Well, let's start maybe, as I love to do, tell us a little bit about the early Chris growing up and all that sort of stuff that's funny to talk about the early days. Chris Miller ** 03:47 Well, I came from a family that loved the mountains, and so it was sort of natural that I would sort of grow up in the mountains close to where I was born, in Brisbane and southeast Queensland. And we have a series of what we call coastal ranges, or border ranges, between Queensland and New South Wales, which are two of the largest states in Australia. And so I spent a lot of time hunting around there. So I sort of fell into emergency management just by virtue of my parents love of the mountains and my familiarity with them and and then I joined the police, and in no time at all, I was training other people to do search and rescues. And that was me in the early days. Michael Hingson ** 04:31 What got you involved in dealing with search and rescue? Chris Miller ** 04:36 Oh, it was volunteer in those days. It still is now actually with the State Emergency Service, but it's sort of become more formalized. It used to be sort of, you know, friends and family and people that knew the territory would help out from somebody managed to get themselves a bit tangled up some of those coastal ranges, even to this day, I. You can't use GPS because it's rain forest, and so the rain forest canopy is so dense that you'd have to cut trees down, and it's a national park, you can't do that and or climb the tree. Good luck with that one. You still can't get satellite coverage, so you actually have to know the country. But what? Michael Hingson ** 05:24 What caused you to actually decide to take that up or volunteer to do that? That's, you know, pretty, pretty interesting, I would think, but certainly something that most people don't tend to do. Chris Miller ** 05:38 Well, my family's interest in there. My parents have always been very community minded, so, you know, and it's the Australian way, if someone needs help and you can help, you throw them do so, Michael Hingson ** 05:51 okay, that makes sense. So you joined the police, and you got very much involved in in dealing with search and rescue. And I would presume, knowing you, that you became pretty much an expert in it as much as one can. Chris Miller ** 06:06 Oh, well, I wouldn't be so reckless as to say experts, because there's always so much to learn. And, yeah, and the systems keep changing. I mean, with GPS and and, for instance, in the early days of search and rescue helicopters were a rare treat. Now they're sort of part of the fabric of things. And now there's drones, and there's all sorts of high tech solutions that have come into the field in the lengthy time that I've been involved in. It's certainly not just ramping around the bush and hoping to find someone it's a lot more complex, but Michael Hingson ** 06:41 as you but as you pointed out, there are still places where all the tech in the world isn't necessarily going to help. Is it Chris Miller ** 06:52 exactly and interestingly, my mother in her teenage years, was involved with a fellow called Bernard O'Reilly, and he did a fantastic rescue of a plane crash survivors and and he he claimed that he saw a burnt tree in the distance. Well, I've stood on the Rift Valley where he claimed to see the burnt tree, and, my goodness, he's also it must have been better than mine, because it's a long way, but he was a great believer in God, and he believed that God led him to these people, and he saved them. And it's fascinating to see how many people, over the years, have done these amazing things. And Bernard was a very low key sort of fellow, never one to sort of see publicity, even though he got more than He probably wanted. And they've been television series and movies and, goodness knows, books, many books written about this amazing rescue. So I sort of grew up with these stories of these amazing rescues. And my father came from Tasmania, where his best friend David ended up mountain rescue. So I sort of was born into it. It was probably in my genes, and it just no escaping Michael Hingson ** 08:12 you came into it naturally, needless to say, so that just out of curiosity, you can answer or not. But where does all of this put you in terms of believing in God, Chris Miller ** 08:25 oh, well, there's probably been points in my life where I've been more of a believer than ever. Michael Hingson ** 08:33 Yeah. Well, there. There are a lot of things that happen that often times we we seem not to be able to explain, and we we chalk it up to God's providence. So I suppose you can take that as you will. I've talked about it before on unstoppable mindset, but one of my favorite stories of the World Trade Center on September 11 was a woman who normally got up at seven every morning. She got up, got dressed, went to the World Trade Center where she worked. I forget what floor she was on, but she was above where the planes would have hit, and did hit. But on this particular day, for some reason, she didn't set her alarm to go off at 7am she set it accidentally to go off at 7pm so she didn't get up in time, and she survived and wasn't in the World Trade Center at all. So what was that? You know, they're just so many stories like that, and it, it certainly is a reason to keep an open mind about things nevertheless, Chris Miller ** 09:39 well, and I've also worked with a lot of Aboriginal people and with the World Bank, with with other people that have, perhaps beliefs that are different to what we might consider more traditional beliefs in Western society. And it's interesting how their spirituality their belief system. Yeah. Has often guided them too soon. Michael Hingson ** 10:03 Well, there's, there's something to be said for that. Needless to say, well, so you, did you go to college? Or did you go out of whatever high school type things and then go into the police? Or what? Chris Miller ** 10:18 Um, yes, I joined the police from high school, I completed my high school graduation, as you call it in America, police academy, where in Brisbane, Oxley and then the Queensland Police Academy, and subsequent to that, I went to university part time while I was a police officer, and graduated and so on and so Michael Hingson ** 10:41 on. So you eventually did get a college degree. 10:45 True, okay, Michael Hingson ** 10:48 well, but you were also working, so that must have been pretty satisfying to do, Chris Miller ** 10:55 but, but it was tricky to especially when you're on shift work trying to going to excuse me, study and and hold on a more than full time job? Michael Hingson ** 11:09 Yeah, had to be a challenge. It was, Chris Miller ** 11:13 but it was worth it and, and I often think about my degree and the learnings I did psychology and sociology and then how it I often think a university degree isn't so much the content, it's it's the discipline and the and the analysis and research and all the skills that you Get as part of the the process. It's important. Michael Hingson ** 11:42 Yeah, I agree. I think that a good part of what you do in college is you learn all about analysis, you learn about research, you learn about some of these things which are not necessarily talked about a lot, but if you you do what you're supposed to do. Well those are, are certainly traits that you learn and things that you you develop in the way of tools that can help you once you graduate, Chris Miller ** 12:13 absolutely and continue to be valuable and and this was sort of reinforced in the years when I was post graduate at the University of Queensland, and was, was one of the representatives on the arts faculty board, where we spend a lot of time actually thinking about, you know, what is education? What are we trying to achieve here? Not just be a degree factory, but what are we actually trying to share with the students to make them better citizens and contribute in various ways. Michael Hingson ** 12:50 Yeah, I know that last year, I was inducted as an alumni member of the Honor Society, phi, beta, kappa, and I was also asked to deliver the keynote speech at the induction dinner for all of the the students and me who were inducted into phi, Beta Kappa last June. And one of the things that I talked about was something that I've held dear for a long time, ever since I was in college, a number of my professors in physics said to all of us, one of the things that you really need to do is to pay attention to details. It isn't enough to get the numeric mathematical answer correct. You have to do things like get the units correct. So for example, if you're talking about acceleration, you need to make sure that it comes out meters per second squared. It isn't just getting a number, but you've got to have the units and other things that that you deal with. You have to pay attention to the details. And frankly, that has always been something that has stuck with me. I don't, and I'm sure that it does with other people, but it's always been something that I held dear, and I talked about that because that was one of the most important things that I learned out of college, and it is one of the most important things that helped me survive on September 11, because it is all about paying attention to the details and really learning what you can about whatever you need to learn, and making sure that you you have all the information, and you get all the information that you can Chris Miller ** 14:34 absolutely and in the emergency space, it's it's learning from what's happened and right, even Though many of the emergencies that we deal with, sadly, people die or get badly injured or significant harm to their lives, lifestyle and economy and so on, I often think that the return for them is that we learn to do better next. Time that we capture the lessons and we take them from just lessons identified to lessons learned, where we make real, significant changes about how we do things. And you've spoken often about 911 and of course, in Australia, we've been more than passingly interested in what the hell happened there. Yeah, in terms of emergency management too, because, as I understand it, you had 20, 479, months of fire fighting in the tunnels. And of course, we've thought a lot about that. In Australia, we have multi story buildings in some of our major cities. What if some unpleasant people decided to bring some of them down? They would be on top of some of our important infrastructure, such as Metro tunnels and so on. Could we manage to do 20, 479, months of fire fighting, and how would that work? Do we have the resources? How could we deploy people to make that possible? So even when it isn't in your own country, you're learning from other people, from agencies, to prepare your country and your situation in a state of readiness. Should something unpleasant Michael Hingson ** 16:16 happen? I wonder, speaking of tunnels, that's just popped into my head. So I'll ask it. I wonder about, you know, we have this war in the Middle East, the Israeli Hamas war. What have we learned about or from all of the tunnels that Hamas has dug in in Gaza and so on? What? What does all that teach us regarding emergency preparedness and so on, or does it Chris Miller ** 16:46 presently teaches us a lot about military preparedness. And you know, your your enemy suddenly, suddenly popping up out of the out of the under underground to take you on, as they've been doing with the idea as I understand it, Michael Hingson ** 17:03 yeah. But also, Chris Miller ** 17:06 you know, simplistic solutions, like some people said, Well, why don't you just flood the tunnels and that'll deal with them. Except the small problem is, if you did that, you would actually make the land unlivable for many years because of salination. So it just raises the questions that there are no simple solutions to these challenging problems in defense and emergency management. And back to your point about detail, you need to think about all your options very carefully. And one of the things that I often do with senior people is beware of one track thinking. There is no one solution to any number of emergencies. You should be thinking as broadly as possible and bringing bringing in the pluses and minuses of each of those solutions before you make fairly drastic choices that could have long term consequences, you know, like the example of the possible flooding of the tunnel, sounds like a simple idea and has some appeal, but there's lots of downsides to Michael Hingson ** 18:10 much less, the fact that there might very well be people down there that you don't want to see, perishes, Chris Miller ** 18:20 yeah, return to their families. I'm sure they'd like that. And there may be other people, I understand that they've been running medical facilities and doing all sorts of clever things in the tunnel. And those people are not combatants. They're actually trying to help you, right? Michael Hingson ** 18:37 Yeah, so it is one of those things that really points out that no solutions are necessarily easy at all, and we need to think pretty carefully about what we do, because otherwise there could be a lot of serious problems. And you're right Chris Miller ** 18:55 exactly, and there's a lot of hard choices and often made hastily in emergency management, and this is one of the reasons why I've been a big defender of the recovery elements being involved in emergency management. You need to recovery people in the response activities too, because sometimes some of the choices you make in response might seem wonderful at the time, but are absolutely devastating in the recovery space, right? Michael Hingson ** 19:25 Do you find that when you're in an emergency situation that you are afraid, or are you not afraid? Or have you just learned to control fear, and I don't mean just in a in a negative way, but have you learned to control sphere so that you use it as a tool, as opposed to it just overwhelming you. Chris Miller ** 19:49 Yeah, sometimes the fee sort of kicks in afterwards, because often in the actual heat of the moment, you're so focused on on dealing with the problem. Problem that you really don't have time to be scared about it. Just have to deal with it and get on to next problem, because they're usually coming at you in a in a pretty tsunami like why? If it's a major incident, you've got a lot happening very quickly, and decisions need to be made quickly and often with less of the facts and you'd like to have at your fingertips to make some fairly life changing decisions for some people. But I would think what in quite tricky, Michael Hingson ** 20:33 yeah, but I would think what that means is that you learn to control fear and not let it overwhelm you, but you learn that, yeah, it's there, but you use it to aid you, and you use it to help move you to make the decisions as best you can, as opposed to not being able to make decisions because you're too fearful, Chris Miller ** 21:00 right? And decision paralysis can be a real issue. I remember undertaking an exercise some years back where a quite senior person called me into his office when it was over, was just tabletop, and he said, I'm not it. And I went. He said, I'm not really a crisis manager. I'm good in a business as usual situation where I have all the facts before me, and usually my staff have had weeks, months to prepare a detailed brief, provide me with options and recommendations I make a sensible decision, so I'm not really good on the fly. This is not me and and that's what we've been exercising. Was a senior team making decisions rather quickly, and he was mature enough person to realize that that wasn't really his skill set, Michael Hingson ** 21:55 his skill set, but he said, Chris Miller ** 21:59 he said, but I've got a solution. Oh, good, my head of property. Now, in many of the businesses I've worked with, the head of property, it HR, work, health and safety, security, all sorts of things go wrong in their day. You know, they can, they can come to the office and they think they're going to do, you know, this my to do list, and then all of a sudden, some new problem appears that they must deal with immediately. So they're often really good at dealing with whatever the hell today's crisis is. Now, it may not be enough to activate business continuity plan, but it's what I call elasticity of your business as usual. So you think you're going to be doing X, but you're doing x plus y, because something's happened, right? And you just reach out and deal with it. And those people do that almost on a daily basis, particularly if it's a large business. For instance, I worked with one business that had 155 locations in Australia? Well, chances are something will go wrong in one of those 155 locations in any given day. So the property manager will be really good at dealing, reaching out and dealing with whatever that problem is. So this, this senior colleague said, Look, you should make my property manager the chair of this group, and I will hand over delegations and be available, you know, for advice. But he should leave it because he's very good on the fly. He does that every day. He's very well trained in it by virtue of his business as usual, elasticity, smart move. And Michael Hingson ** 23:45 it worked out, Chris Miller ** 23:47 yes, yeah, we exercised subsequently. And it did work because he started off by explaining to his colleagues his position, that the head of property would step up to the plate and take over some more senior responsibilities during a significant emergency. Michael Hingson ** 24:06 Okay, so how long were you with the police, and what did you do after that? Chris Miller ** 24:17 With the police at nearly 17 years in Queensland, I had a period of operational work in traffic. I came from family of motorcycle and car racing type people, so yeah, it was a bit amusing that I should find my way there. And it actually worked out while I was studying too, because I had a bit of flexibility in terms of my shift rostery. And then when I started my masters, excuse me, my first masters, I sort of got too educated, so I had to be taken off operational policing and put the commissioner office. Hmm. Michael Hingson ** 25:01 And what did you do there the commissioner's office? Chris Miller ** 25:05 Yes. So I was much more involved in strategic planning and corporate planning and a whole lot of other moves which made the transition from policing actually quite easy, because I'd been much more involved in the corporate stuff rather than the operational stuff, and it was a hard transition. I remember when I first came out of operational policing into the commissioner's office. God, this is so dull. Michael Hingson ** 25:32 Yeah, sitting behind a desk. It's not the same, Chris Miller ** 25:37 not the same at all. But when I moved from policing into more traditional public service roles. I had the sort of requisite corporate skills because of those couple of years in the commission itself. Michael Hingson ** 25:51 So when you Well, what caused you to leave the police and where did you go? Chris Miller ** 25:59 Well, interestingly, when I joined, I was planning to leave. I sort of had three goals. One was get a degree leave at 30 some other thing, I left at 32 and I was head hunted to become the first female Workplace Health and Safety Inspector in Queensland, and at the time, my first and now late husband was very unwell, and I was working enormous hours, and I was offered a job with shorter hours and more money and a great opportunity. So I took it, Michael Hingson ** 26:36 which gave you a little bit more time with family and him, exactly. So that was, was that in an emergency management related field, Chris Miller ** 26:48 workplace health and safety, it can be emergencies, yeah? Well, hopefully not, yeah, because in the Workplace Health and Safety space, we would like people to prepare so there aren't emergency right? Well, from time to time, there are and and so I came in, what happened was we had a new act in Queensland, New Work, Health and Safety Act prior to the new Act, the police, fire and other emergency service personnel were statutory excluded from work health and safety provisions under the law in Queensland, the logic being their job was too dangerous. How on earth could you make it safe? And then we had a new government came in that wanted to include police and emergency services somehow or other. And I sort of became, by default, the Work Health and Safety Advisor for the Queensland Police at the time. There was no such position then, but somebody had to do it, and I was in the commissioner's office and showed a bit of interest that you can do that. Michael Hingson ** 28:01 It's in the training, Chris Miller ** 28:03 hmm, and, and I remember a particularly pivotal meeting where I had to be face the Deputy Commissioner about whether police would be in or out of that legislation, because they had to advise the government whether it's actually possible to to include police. Michael Hingson ** 28:28 So what did you advise? Chris Miller ** 28:31 Well, I gave him the pluses and minuses because whatever we decided it was going to be expensive, yeah, if we said no, politically, it was bad news, because we had a government that wanted us to say yes, and if we said yes, it was going to cost a lot of money make it happen. Michael Hingson ** 28:49 What finally happened? Yes one, yes one, well, yeah, the government got its way. Do you think that made sense to do that was Yes, right. Chris Miller ** 29:03 It always was. It always was right, because it was just nonsense that Michael Hingson ** 29:11 police aren't included Chris Miller ** 29:14 to exclude, because not every function of policing is naturally hazardous, some of it is quite right going forward and can be made safe, right, and even the more hazardous functions, such as dealing with armed offenders, it can be made safer. There are ways of protecting your police or increasing their bulletproof attire and various other pieces of training and procedures soon even possible. Michael Hingson ** 29:51 But also part of that is that by training police and bringing them into it, you make them more. Which also has to be a positive in the whole process, Chris Miller ** 30:05 absolutely, and I did quite a lot of work with our some people used to call them the black pajamas. They were our top of the range people that would deal with the most unpleasant customers. And they would train with our military in Australia, our counter terrorism people are trained with the military. The police and military train together because that expands our force capability. If something really disagreeable happens, so Michael Hingson ** 30:42 it's got to start somewhere. So when, so all this wasn't necessarily directly related to emergency management, although you did a lot to prepare. When did you actually go into emergency management as a field? Chris Miller ** 31:01 Oh, well. So I was involved in response when I was talking about rescue, search and rescue, and then increasingly, I became involved in exercising and planning, writing, procedures, training, all that, getting ready stuff, and then a lot more work in terms of debriefing, so observing the crisis centers and seeing if there could be some fine tuning even during the event, but also debriefing. So what did we actually learn? What do we do? Well, what might be do better next time? Well, there's some insights that the people that were most involved might have picked up as a result of this latest incident, whatever that might have been. Michael Hingson ** 31:58 And so when you so where did you end up, where you actually were formally in the emergency management field? Chris Miller ** 32:07 Well, emergency management is quite a broad field. Yeah, it's preparedness right through to response and recovery and everything in between. And so I've had involvement in all of that over the years. So from preparing with training and exercising right through to it's happening. You're hanging off the helicopter skids and so on. Michael Hingson ** 32:34 So did you do this? Working Chris Miller ** 32:36 it come back from you with a bit of a call. Oh, sorry. When through to response and recovery. You know, how are we going to respond? What are our options? What are our assets through to recovery, which is usually a long tail. So for instance, if it's a flood of fire or zone, it'll take a very long time to recover. You know, 911 you didn't rebuild towers and and rebuild that area quickly. It took years to put things back together again. Yeah, Michael Hingson ** 33:11 the only thing about it is One can only hope that was we put things back together, and as we move forward, we also remember the lessons that we should learn from what happened in the past, absolutely, and I'm not sure that that always happens Chris Miller ** 33:31 true, and that's why I often get a bit annoyed when I hear particularly politicians talk about lessons learned very hastily after The event. You know they say we will learn the lessons from this or that. No, don't you think? Because for those of us involved in the debriefing and lessons management space, we know that that you have observations, insights, lessons identified, but they're not learned, usually, until some considerable period thereafter when you make the necessary changes to training procedures, whatever it might be, so that those those learnings are embedded in the way forward. Michael Hingson ** 34:18 Yeah, and not everybody learns the lessons who should learn the lessons, and they don't always listen to the people who really do understand. But you can only do what you can do as well. Well, Chris Miller ** 34:34 we're trying to structure more of that with lessons management so that it's a lot less hit and miss. I mean, when I first came into emergency management, it was much more, much more, a sort of learning on the job, sometimes learning bad habits from people, and then gradually, hopefully and. Setting aside the bad habits and getting into the good habits. Now you can do a masters and PhDs in disaster management, thank goodness, so that we become much more sophisticated in terms of our evidence base and our research and our understanding. And as I said, this crossover so we learned a lot from what happened with 911 that might be applicable here in Australia, should something unpleasant in their larger cities happen too? So we learn from each other. It isn't a static environment, it's very much a fluid environment, and one that's moving forward. I'm happy to report. Michael Hingson ** 35:40 Well, that's important that it moves forward and that we learn from what has happened now, of course, we have all sorts of things going on over here with air traffic controllers and losing communications and all sorts of other things that once again, causes people to need to learn how to very quickly react and make strong decisions and not panic with what's going on. I heard on the news this morning about somebody who saw two aircraft that were about to collide, and he was able to get them to divert so that they didn't hit each other, but radar hadn't detected it. So, you know, they're just the people are very resilient when they when they learn and understand what they need to do. Chris Miller ** 36:34 And I've had the honor of working with air traffic controllers and doing some exercises with them. They're actually amazing people for a number of reasons. One is the stress levels of their job is just beyond belief. But two is they actually have to think in 3d so they've got their radar screens, which are 2d and they actually have to think in 3d which is a really rare and amazing skill. It's like a great sculptor. Yeah, in Europe, I've seen some wonderful sculpture, they actually have to think in 3d in terms of the positioning of their aircraft and how to deal with them. It's a it's a great set of skills, so never to be underestimated. And of course, it raises the question of aging infrastructure and an aging workforce too, something that in a lot of countries, yours and mine, it seems that we've been quite neglectful about legacy systems that we have not upgraded, and about the aging workforce that we have not invested enough effort in terms of bringing new people into the system so that, as our our long time warriors want to retire, and they're entitled to that can leave and Knowing that there will be more useful replacements. Michael Hingson ** 38:04 I flew last week, and actually for one of my flights, sat next to an air traffic controller who was going to a meeting, which was fascinating. And same point was made that a lot of the infrastructure is anywhere from 25 to 50 years old, and it shouldn't be. It's so amazing that I would, I guess I would say our politicians, even though they've been warned so many times, won't really deal with upgrading the equipment. And I think enough is starting to happen. Maybe they will have to do it because too much is failing, but we'll see and to Chris Miller ** 38:42 worry when people are doing things that are so important hastily. And interestingly, when I was exercising Sydney air traffic controllers, I usually got a glimpse of a new high tech solution that they were in the process of testing, which was going to put more cameras and more capability around the airfield than they'd ever had before, even though they're sitting in an $80 million tower that would be built for them with Australian tax dollars, but trying to get the system even more sophisticated, more responsive, because the flight levels coming in and out of Sydney continue to grow. 90% of Australians air traffic goes in and out of Sydney at some point in the day, yeah. So they're very busy there, and how can we provide systems that will support the capacity to do better for us and continue to maintain our sales flows? Michael Hingson ** 39:50 So we met kind of through the whole issue of the business continuity Institute conference last year. What's the difference between emergency. Management and business continuity management Chris Miller ** 40:03 interesting when I came out of emergency management, so things like the Bali bombings, the Indian Ocean tsunami and so on and so on. A deputy in the Department of Social Security where I used to work, said, oh, we need a business continuity manager. And I said, What's that? Yeah, excuse me, Hey, what's that? Well, I quickly learned it's basically a matter of scale. So I used to be in the business in emergencies, of focusing on the country, united, counter terrorism, all the significant parts of the country, blood, fire and so on, to one business at a time. So the basics of business, of emergency management, come across very neatly to business continuity. You're still preparing and responding and recovering, just on a smaller scale, Michael Hingson ** 41:08 because you're dealing with a particular business at a time true, whereas emergency management is really dealing with it across the board. Chris Miller ** 41:19 We can be the whole country, yeah, depending on what it is that you do in the emergency management space or a significant part of the country, Michael Hingson ** 41:29 when did you kind of transition from emergency management and emergency preparedness on a on a larger scale to the whole arena of business continuity? Chris Miller ** 41:40 Well, I still keep a foot in both camps. Actually, I keep, I keep boomeranging between them. It depends on what my clients want. Since I'm a consultant now, I move between both spaces. Michael Hingson ** 41:57 When did you decide to be a consultant as opposed to working for our particular organization Chris Miller ** 42:04 or the I was a bit burnt out, so I was happy to take a voluntary redundancy from the government and in my consultancy practice Michael Hingson ** 42:12 from there, when did that start? Chris Miller ** 42:16 October of 10. Michael Hingson ** 42:18 October of 2010, yep. Okay, so you've been doing it for almost 15 years, 14 and a half years. Do you like consulting? Chris Miller ** 42:29 Yeah, I do, because I get to work program people who actually want to have me on board. Sometimes when you work as a public servant in these faces. Yeah, you're not seen as an asset. You're a bit of an annoyance. When people are paying you as a consultant, they actually want you to be there, Michael Hingson ** 42:55 yeah? Which? Which counts for something, because then you know that you're, you're going to be more valued, or at least that's the hope that you'll be more valued, because they really wanted to bring you in. They recognize what you what you brought to the table as it were. Chris Miller ** 43:12 Yes, um, no, that's not to say that they always take your recommendations. Yeah. And I would learn to just, you know, provide my report and see what happens. Michael Hingson ** 43:24 So was it an easy transition to go into the whole arena of business continuity, and then, better yet, was it an easy I gather it was probably an easy transition to go off and become a consultant rather than working as you had been before? Chris Miller ** 43:39 Well, the hours are shorter and the pain is better. Michael Hingson ** 43:41 There you are. That helps. Chris Miller ** 43:48 Tell me if you would a lot more flexibility and control over my life that I didn't have when I was a full time public servant. Michael Hingson ** 43:55 Yeah, yeah. And that that, of course, counts for a lot, and you get to exercise more of your entrepreneurial spirit, yes, but Chris Miller ** 44:09 I think one of the things is I've often seen myself as very expensive public asset. The Australian taxpayer has missed a lot of time and effort in my training over very many years. Now they're starting to see some of the return on that investment Michael Hingson ** 44:25 Well, and that's part of it. And the reality is, you've learned a lot that you're able to put to you, so you bring a lot of expertise to what you do, which also helps explain why you feel that it's important to earn a decent salary and or a decent consulting fee. And if you don't and people want to just talk you down and not pay you very much, that has its own set of problems, because then you wonder how much they really value what you what you bring. Chris Miller ** 44:55 Yes. And so now i. Through the World Bank and my international consultancy work, I'm sharing some of those experiences internationally as well. Michael Hingson ** 45:11 So you mentioned the World Bank, who are some of your clients, the people that you've worked with, the Chris Miller ** 45:18 World Bank doesn't like you talking too much about what you do? Michael Hingson ** 45:20 Yeah, that's, I was wondering more, what are some of the organizations you worked with, as opposed to giving away secrets of what you Chris Miller ** 45:31 do? Well, for the wellbeing club, basically worked in the health sector in Africa and in APAC, okay, and that's involved working with Ministries of Health, you know, trying to get them in a better state of preparing this, get their plans and better shape, get them exercising those plans and all that kind of important stuff, stuff that we kind of take for granted in Our countries, in yours well, with FEMA, although, what's left of FEMA now? Yeah, but also in my own country, you know, we're planning and exercising and lessons management and all these things are just considered, you know, normal operations when you're talking to low and middle income countries. And no, that isn't normal operations. It's something that is still learning, and you have the honor to work with them and bring them into that sort of global fold about how these things are done. Michael Hingson ** 46:35 Well, you worked in some pretty far away and and relatively poor countries and so on. I assume that was a little bit different than working in what some people might call the more developed countries. You probably had to do more educating and more awareness raising, also, Chris Miller ** 46:55 yes and no. The African country I worked in a lot of these people had studied at Harvard and some of your better universities. But what I noticed was, as brilliant as those people were, and as well trained and educated, there weren't enough of them. And that was one of the real problems, is, is trying to expand the workforce with the necessary skills in emergency management or whatever else you might be trying to do pandemic preparedness or something. Don't have enough people on the ground in those countries that have the necessary skills and experience. Michael Hingson ** 47:44 Were you able to help change that? Chris Miller ** 47:48 Yeah, we set up some training programs, and hopefully some of those continue beyond our time with them. Michael Hingson ** 47:58 So again, it is some awareness raising and getting people to buy into the concepts, which some will and some won't. I remember while at the Business Continuity Institute, one of the people said the thing about the people who attend the conference is they're the what if people, and they're always tasked with, well, what if this happens? What if that happens? But nobody listens to them until there's really an emergency, and then, of course, they're in high demand. Which, which I can understand. Chris Miller ** 48:33 That's why you want exercises, because it raises awareness so that, so that the what if, the business continuity people are thinking that emergency managers are a bit more front of mind for some of the senior people, it's less of a surprise when something unpleasant happens. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 48:56 Well, how is the whole concept and the whole structure or theory of emergency management, changed. You've been involved in this a long time. So how has it evolved and changed over the years? Chris Miller ** 49:10 Much more education, formal education, not learning on the job, actually going to university and learning properly, but much more evidence based, much more structured lessons management, much more technology. There's so many changes, at least to be very long. Michael Hingson ** 49:31 Does AI come into play in emergency management? Yet, Chris Miller ** 49:37 I think it's coming in. More and more we're using it for prediction of fire behavior and all sorts of things now, Michael Hingson ** 49:47 yeah, and that, and that makes sense, that we're, we're starting to see where the whole technology and the whole ability to monitor so many things. Can tell us there's a fire starting or something is happening a lot more quickly than we used to be able to do it. I'm not sure that we're there yet with earthquakes, but even with earthquakes, we're getting warnings a little bit more quickly than we used to. We had an earthquake here in Southern California a couple of weeks ago, and I forget exactly, but it was a number of seconds that people had some decent warnings. So by the time it was analyzed and determined that there was going to be an earthquake, there was still time to issue a warning that alerted people, because she still had to react pretty quickly if you wanted to take advantage of it. But I think that we're only going to see more and more technological changes that will help the process be better, Chris Miller ** 50:55 absolutely. And one of the big problems that we're having is a lot of our previous sort of fire mapping, fire behavior, flood mapping is out of date very quickly, because of development and climate change and all sorts of factors, previous behaviors are not actually a very good model, but an AI permits us to do things faster. Michael Hingson ** 51:24 Yeah, we're going to have to just continue, certainly to encourage it. And again, it's one of those areas where the reality is all of the skills that we and tools that we can bring to the to the process are absolutely appropriate to do, because otherwise we just either take a step backward or we don't progress at all Chris Miller ** 51:49 well. And to give you another example, um, Life Savers, New South Wales lifesavers. Here, I run the largest grain fleet in the country now for a long time, life saving used to be sort of volunteers, and in pretty old tech, not anymore, oh boy. And they're even looking at things like deploying life saving devices off their drones as they get bigger and smarter and heavier lifting to be able to drop things to people in distress. We're using it for shark netting, whereas we used to take a boat out and check the shark nets, now we can send the drones out, and then if you need to send the boat out, you're not wasting a lot of money chugging up and down in your boat. So there's all sorts of savings and adjustments in this space, in technology with AI and all sorts of other fancy devices like drones, Michael Hingson ** 52:54 how about emergency management and so on, in terms of dealing with different kinds of people, like people with disabilities, people who are blind or deaf or hard of hearing, maybe heavy people, people who are in the autism spectrum and so on has emerged. Have emergency managers gotten better at dealing with different kinds of disabilities? How much real awareness raising and understanding has gone into all of that Chris Miller ** 53:26 well. Towards the end of last year, there was a big package of work done by EMA Emergency Management Australia, being conducted in conjunction with AD the Australian Institute of disaster resiliency, and that's in the disability space and the whole lot of that's rolling out in workshops all over the country to try and do even better. Yes, it's still a weakness, I would have to agree, and we still need to do a whole lot better in that whole space of some of those vulnerable groups that you mentioned, and hopefully some of this important initiative that's sponsored by the government and will help raise awareness and improve response activities in the future. Michael Hingson ** 54:15 I would also point out, and it's, of course, all about training to a degree, because, you know, people say, well, blind people can't do this, for example, or they can't do that. And the reality is, blind people can, if they're trained, if they gain self confidence, if they're given and put it in an environment where they're able to be given confidence to do things. The reality is, blindness isn't the challenge that most sighted people would believe it to be, but at the same time, I think that one of the biggest things, and I saw it on September 11, one of the biggest things, is information, or lack of information. I asked several times what was going on, and no one who clearly had to know. Who would say what was occurring. And I understand some of that because they they didn't know whether I would just panic because they said airplanes had deliberately been crashed into the towers or not. But also, I know that there was also a part of it, which was, when you're blind, you can't deal with any of that. We're not going to tell you, we don't have time to tell you. Information, to me, is the most important thing that you can provide, but I but I do appreciate there. There are two sides to it, but it is also important to recognize that, with a lot of people who happen to have different kinds of disabilities, providing information may very well be an enhancement to their circumstances, because they can make decisions and do things that they might not otherwise have been able to do. Well, Chris Miller ** 55:50 it was certainly the case for you, because you had information and you had preparedness before 911 right? You were able to respond in more effective ways because you knew what was what. And we certainly saw that in covid, for instance, even things like translating information into different languages. In Australia, we have people from, I think the last census, 170 countries, they don't all speak English as their first language. And having worked with Aboriginal people for eight years, quite specifically, one of my dear friends, English was her sixth language. Michael Hingson ** 56:32 But at the same time, Chris Miller ** 56:33 go ahead, yeah, and yet we keep putting information out in all that well, no, we need to do much better in the language phase, in the preparedness space of people with all sorts of challenges. We need to reach out to those people so that as you were prepared for 911 and you knew where the fire escapes were, and this and that really paid benefits on the day that we've done that, that we've taken reasonable steps to prepare everyone in the community, not just the English speakers or the this or that, right? All people get the chance to understand their situation and prepare apparently, Michael Hingson ** 57:22 I know that if I had had more information about what had occurred, I may very well have decided to travel a different way to leave or after leaving the tower and the building. I might have gone a different way, rather than essentially walking very much toward tower two and being very close to it when it collapsed. But I didn't have that information because they wouldn't provide that. So not helpful. Yeah, so things, things do happen. So I'm sure that along the way you've had funny experiences in terms of dealing with emergencies and emergency management. What's the funniest kind of thing that you ever ran into? I'll Chris Miller ** 58:08 come back to the old packers, but just quickly, that whole crisis communication space is also a big development in emergency management. Yeah, a long time we kind of kept the information to ourselves, but we realize that knowledge is power. We need to get it out there to people. So we do a lot more with alerts on the phones and all sorts of clever things now, right? Funny things? Well, there's so many of those, which one probably most recently is the dreaded alpacas where I live now, as you see, well, as some people who might see the video of this, I live by the beach, which is pretty common for a lot of Australians. Anyway, we have had fires up in in a nice valley called kangaroo Valley. Then a lot of people that live there are sort of small farmlets. There are some dairy farms and people that are more scale farmers, but other people just have a small plot, excuse me, maybe a couple of horses or something or other. And and then when we had fires up there a few years back, we set up emergency evacuation centers for them, and we set them up for dogs and cats and small animals, and we had facility for horses at the nearby race grounds and so on. But we weren't expecting our hackers and alpacas are actually quite big, and they spit and do other things quite under manage. So I remember we rang up the race course manager and we said, we've got alpacas. What you got? What I. I said, Well, they're sort of about the size of a horse. He said, Yes, yes, but we know what to do with horses. We know what the hell to do without Yes. Anyway, eventually we moved the alpacas to horse stables and kept them away from the horses because we weren't sure how to do and interact. Yeah. And the owner of these alpacas was so attached to her animals that she she insisted on sleeping in her Carney her alpacas. And some people are very attached to their animals, even if they're a little on the large side. Yeah. Michael Hingson ** 1:00:37 Well, I know during the fires that we had here in Southern California back in January, there were a number of people who had horses and were very concerned about evacuating them, and, of course, other animals as well. But the horses especially were were dealt with, and they had emergency well, they had places to take them if they could get the horses out. I don't know whether we lost horses or how many we lost during all the big fires, but yeah, Chris Miller ** 1:01:10 I'm serious far as new Canberra, which is my city of residence for many years, and what happened? I decision. What happened was, quite often, the men were all fighting the fires, and the women were left with with smoke affected horses. Oh, and they were trying to get them onto the horse flight. Now, as we quickly discovered, horses are pretty smart, and they're not keen on being near fires. They don't want to be there, right? So they become quite a challenge to me. And to put a horse float onto your vehicle is no easy thing when you've never done it before and you're trying to do it in a crisis. So when all that was over, one of the lessons that we did learn was we arranged to have a sort of open day at the near, nearby race course. We've actually taught people to put the trailer on the back of the vehicle, to deal with a fractious horse, to sort of cover its face or protect it from the smoke and do all sorts of helpful things. So sometimes, when we get it wrong, we do learn and make some important improvements like it. Michael Hingson ** 1:02:32 What's the kind of most important advice you would give to somebody who's new in emergency management or interested in going into the field Chris Miller ** 1:02:42 and sign up for a good course, do a bachelor or master's degree in emergency management, because not only will you learn from your instructors, you'll learn from your colleagues, and this is a networking business, Michael Hingson ** 1:02:56 yeah. Well, I want to Oh, have you? I haven't asked you. Have you written any books? No, you haven't okay? Because if you had, I'd ask you to send me book covers so that we could put them in the show notes. Well, there's something for you to look at in the near future. You could learn to be an author and add that to your skill repertoire. I want to thank you for being Yeah. Well, there is always that right, too many emergencies to manage. Well, Chris, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you for listening and being with us today. I hope that this has been helpful and interesting and educational. I found it so I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I'm sure Chris would as well. Chris, how can people maybe reach out to you if they'd like to do. So, Chris Miller ** 1:03:42 yeah, sure. LinkedIn is a good way to find me, and I've given you all those details. So Michael Hingson ** 1:03:49 go ahead and say your LinkedIn name anyway. Chris Miller ** 1:03:53 Good question. Yeah, it's before cross. This is my business Michael Hingson ** 1:03:58 name before being the number four crisis. That's it. Chris Miller ** 1:04:03 My LinkedIn name is, Michael Hingson ** 1:04:08 says before Chris Miller ** 1:04:09 process, yeah, and your email is going to be full process on LinkedIn. Michael Hingson ** 1:04:16 Chris Miller at before before crisis, and email is number four process. And in email, it's before, no, it's, it's Chris Miller, before crisis, again, isn't Chris Miller ** 1:04:30 it? It's Chris at default process, Chris at before crisis.com.au, Michael Hingson ** 1:04:35 yeah, okay, memorizing the Chris Miller ** 1:04:41 reason why it's led to be number four crisis right is I like to see my clients before the crisis, right, and I know they'll be more motivated after the crisis. Michael Hingson ** 1:04:53 Well, I hope that you'll reach out to Chris and find her on LinkedIn, and all the information is in the show notes. She is right. But. Always like to get people to say it, if they can. I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at Michael H I M, I C H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S i b, e.com, or go to our podcast page, w, w, w, dot Michael hingson, that's m, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s o n.com/podcast, podcast singular that is, wherever you're listening or watching, please give us a five star rating. We really value your ratings and your reviews and input. We appreciate it, and for all of you and Chris you as well, if you know of anyone who ought to be a guest, or you think should be a guest on unstoppable mindset, we're always looking for more people to talk with and have conversations with, so please introduce us. We're always excited to get that kind of thing from you as well. So once again, Chris, I just want to thank you for being here. This has been fun today. Chris Miller ** 1:05:54 Thank you, Michael. It was fun to meet Michael Hingson ** 1:06:02 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.
C'est une enquête de Jeune Afrique sur la vague d'arrestations de ces derniers jours qui a frappé plusieurs hauts-gradés. Une cinquantaine d'officiers, dont au moins deux généraux, ont été mis aux arrêts pour tentative de déstabilisation. Les autorités militaires du pays n'ont donné aucune explication. Silence radio total. Alors, s'interroge le site panafricain : « que se passe-t-il dans les rangs des Forces armées maliennes ? Une division interne secoue-t-elle l'équilibre des cinq colonels putschistes ? Ceux-là mêmes qui se sont toujours affichés soudés depuis le putsch du 18 août 2020 ? » En fait, affirme Jeune Afrique, tout serait parti d'une « réunion dans la nuit du 25 au 26 juillet au camp militaire de Kati entre une dizaine de hauts-gradés et le chef de la junte ». Contestations et récriminations… Réunion au cours de laquelle, « la générale de brigade Nema Sagara ainsi que le général Abass Dembélé, le colonel Famouké Camara, et d'autres officiers auraient contesté certains choix stratégiques pris par la junte. Ils se seraient plaints auprès d'Assimi Goïta du manque de reconnaissance envers les soldats tombés sur le champ de bataille qui ne reçoivent pas les honneurs nationaux, et dont la mort est passée sous silence. S'ils sont d'accord avec la guerre de communication menée par Bamako, précise encore Jeune Afrique, de plus en plus d'officiers estimeraient que les mensonges autour des pertes réelles de l'armée portent atteinte au moral des troupes, qui ont le sentiment de se sacrifier pour rien ». Le site panafricain poursuit : « après cette réunion, percevant un risque de mutinerie, le patron des renseignements, le général Modibo Koné, aurait suggéré au président Goïta d'étouffer dans l'œuf toute velléité contestataire, afin de ne pas laisser place à l'organisation d'un coup d'État. Le président, conscient du risque, aurait déclenché quelques jours plus tard une purge préventive dans les rangs des officiers critiques. En concentrant ses efforts sur l'entourage des généraux Nema Sagara et Abass Dembélé ». Lignes de fractures… Il faut dire aussi, rajoute Jeune Afrique, que « depuis plusieurs mois déjà, une certaine fébrilité parcourt les rangs de l'armée malienne. Promu président de la République par une loi qu'il a lui-même promulguée le 10 juillet, lui conférant un mandat de cinq ans renouvelable “autant de fois que nécessaire“ et sans élection, le chef de la junte malienne s'est offert un règne sans partage. De quoi échauder une partie de ses soutiens au sein des forces armées, qui voient dans cette décision une dérive autoritaire éloignant la transition de ses promesses ». Et « une ligne de fracture se dessine au sein de l'armée, pointe encore le site panafricain, entre les soutiens du chef de la junte, Assimi Goïta, et ceux du ministre de la Défense, Sadio Camara. Ces derniers mois, le fossé s'est considérablement creusé entre les deux hommes au point qu'ils ne se consultent presque plus. Alors que certains le surnommaient “le président bis“ ou bien “le cerveau de la transition“, le pouvoir de Sadio Camara s'est réduit à mesure que la transition avançait ». Eswatini : un règne sans partage… À lire également, cette fois dans Le Point Afrique, cette enquête sur le dernier monarque absolu du continent… Le roi Mswati III qui règne sans partage sur l'Eswatini, l'ex-Swaziland, petit pays enclavé en Afrique du Sud. « Les sujets ont pour ordre de vénérer leur roi, assimilé à un dieu vivant, écrit Le Point Afrique, et d'oublier leurs malheurs, pourtant accablants. 60 % de la population vit en dessous du seuil de pauvreté, autrement dit avec moins de 2 dollars par jour. Le chômage des jeunes dépasse les 45 %, l'un des taux les plus élevés d'Afrique australe. Le sida frappe 27 % des adultes, le taux le plus élevé au monde ». Et pendant ce temps, le roi Mswati III mène grand train : « en poursuivant à sa guise la spoliation du pays, constate Le Point Afrique. La holding royale baptisée Tibiyo, indépendante du budget, contrôlerait 60 % de l'économie, dont l'essentiel des revenus issus de la production de cannes à sucre. Soit des centaines de millions de dollars destinés à financer le train de vie fastueux du monarque, propriétaire de 19 Rolls-Royce et de 120 BMW, ainsi que celui de ses 16 femmes et de ses 36 enfants ».
Die Forum for South Africa sê die land verdien 'n mynbedryf wat wettig, veilig en voordelig vir sy burgers is. Minstens 550 vermeende onwettige mynwerkers, waaronder buitelanders en minderjariges, is die afgelope paar dae by die Sheba-goudmyn in Barberton, Mpumalanga, aangekeer. Die meeste verdagtes is van Mosambiek, Swaziland, Lesotho en Zimbabwe. Die forum se leier, Tebogo Mashilompane, sê onwettige mynbedrywighede is nie net ʼn sekerheidsbedreiging nie, maar ook ʼn humanitêre krisis:
It's Friday, June 20th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Buddhist relatives poison 3 kids of Christian couple in Laos In Northern Laos, Pa-yang, a young mother in her 20s and her husband, Lavee, became Christians in 2020. Since then, the villagers had tried to expel the family unless they recanted their faith in Christ. That comes as no surprise since 66% of Laotians are Buddhist and only 1.5% are Christian. The situation took an ugly turn when Pa-yang's relatives wanted her to sell them land she owned. When she refused, they hired someone to sneak into the home and poison a beverage. The three children got to it first. When Pa-yang and her husband were alerted to the medical emergency, they rushed back from the fields to find all three children lying ill on the floor. Tragically, the eldest did not survive and the other two were in comas, reports Open Doors. Open Doors paid for the hospitalization of the younger two children, who got better, as well as covering follow-up medical visits. The heartbroken mother said, “I am sad to lose my son, but I believe—and I know—that my son is sitting with Jesus in Heaven." Lavee, the father, added, "Even if there is more persecution, we will continue believing in Jesus. We will walk faithfully with the Lord, even if we are the only ones doing it. My encouragement comes from the story of Job in the Bible. He faced many tests and lost almost everything, but the Lord delivered him in the end. I believe the Lord God will always save us like He saved Job." Lavee said, "Please pray for our case in the court against the people who killed our child. Pray that the justice system is fair to us. Pray that the perpetrators do not find ways to harm us more if they are released. I am also unsure if God wants us to stay in the same village or look for a new place. Pray that the Lord leads us in making the right decision." Remarkably, Lavee said this. "I believe that the people who plan to kill or harm us for any reason can open their hearts to see God's mercy and love, if we pray for them. So, please pray for them." Lavee is living the message of Mathhew 5:44 where Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Iran's ballistic missiles hit Israeli hospital Iran fired a barrage of some 30 ballistic missiles early Thursday, scoring a direct hit on Israel's main southern hospital, the Soroka Medical Center, reports the Times of Israel. Sam Mednick, a reporter with the Associated Press, brings us this report from the scene. MEDNICK: “The hospital was hit by a missile from Iran early Thursday morning. The top of the building is basically blown off, and you can still see smoke smoldering from the side of it hours later. “This is a major hit from Iran on in a major city on a big hospital, and one of the most significant hits since this conflict began.” The Magen David Adom emergency service said that a man, age 80, and two women, both in their 70s, were among six people seriously hurt. Two people were moderately injured, and at least 42 others suffered light injuries from shock waves and shrapnel at the various impact sites. In addition, 18 people were lightly injured as they scrambled to bomb shelters when sirens went off. The barrage was the latest from Iran as it bombards Israel with ballistic missiles. Israel began attacking Iranian nuclear and military sites last week, citing the immediate existential threat they pose. New York Catholic diocese to pay $150 million to 891 sex abuse victims The Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, New York is set to pay $150 million to victims of sexual abuse that occurred at the hands of Catholic priests, reports The Catholic Review. Gary Aldridge, a survivor of Catholic clergy sexual abuse, said this. ALDRIDGE: “Being a child and being sexual abused from the ages of 7 to 11, it affects you for your whole life.” Specifically, parishes will pay $80 million into the diocese's $150 million bankruptcy settlement, with the funds due to be paid into a trust by July 15. The bankruptcy settlement, agreed to in principle on April 22, will resolve the five-year-long proceedings, which began in 2020. Joe Martone, the Catholic communications director of the diocese, explained that the money would compensate victims in “approximately 891 cases” — making for “one of the highest caseloads in the country.” Martone added, “There's just a lot of anger toward the church about our past sins, and we could never apologize enough for what went on. We're just trying to take care of this now and trying to move beyond bankruptcy and get settlement for these people. Not that it provides closure for them, but at least (they) get some recompense.” All of the claims had been brought under the Child Victims Act, which was passed by the New York Senate and signed into law in 2019. Indeed, the Child Victims Act extended the state's former statute of limitations by granting a one-year look back for time-barred civil claims to be revived, giving survivors until age 28 to press charges for felonies and age 25 for misdemeanors, and allowing survivors up to age 55 to bring lawsuits. Since 2002 — the year in which the U.S. Catholic bishops adopted their “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” — the nation's Catholic dioceses have paid at least $5.6 billion in abuse settlements and related costs. Luke 8:17 says, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” Texas is first state to build pro-life statue On Tuesday, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed a resolution to build the Texas Life Monument, a statue honoring mothers and the their unborn children, reports The Daily Signal. Abbott's signature made Texas the first state to approve of a pro-life statue honoring mother and child on Capitol grounds. GOP State Rep. Caroline Davila, co-author of the resolution, said, “The eight-foot bronze sculpture is modeled after the National Life Monument, which depicts a mother with her child in her womb—a powerful image honoring motherhood and the miracle of life.” SpaceX rocket explodes in new setback to Elon Musk's Mars project One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships has exploded during a routine test in Texas in the latest setback to the billionaire's dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species, reports The Guardian. The Starship 36 underwent “catastrophic failure and exploded” at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11pm on Wednesday. A video showed the fiery explosion of the megarocket. Worldview listener in Kansas says her 7 kids love it I invited Worldview listeners to share what they enjoy about the newscast in 2-6 sentences by email. You can share your thoughts — along with your full name, city and state — and send it to adam@TheWorldview.com Katie Link in Hutchinson, Kansas, said, “Hi Adam, my seven children -- Emily, Lizzie, Levi, Evie, Esther, Caleb, and Eowyn -- and I love listening to your podcast over lunch. I asked the children why they love and want to support The Worldview and they gave me many great reasons. “We love that you use the Bible as proof text and that you share international stories of missionaries as well as local news. We also appreciate the happy stories and the calls to action with specific steps. And all of us, including the 1 and 2-year-old, love to loudly proclaim ‘Seize the day for Jesus Christ!'” 5 Worldview listeners gave $584.30 to fund our annual budget And finally, toward our $92,625 goal by 12 midnight tonight Central Time, Friday, June 20th to fund three-quarters of The Worldview newscast's annual budget for our 6-member team, 5 listeners stepped up to the plate. We are grateful to God for Quinn in Mhlambanyatsi, Eswatini, Africa who gave $30 as well as Ronnie in Milano, Texas and Mike and Ginger in Jonesville, Virgina – both of whom gave $100. And we appreciate the generosity of Tom and Jenn in Palmdale, California who gave $154.30 and Rick and Barb in Arlington, Washington who gave $200. Those 5 Worldview listeners gave a total of $584.30. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $48,330 (People clapping and cheering sound effect) Toward tonight's goal of $92,625, we need to raise $44,295. Will 56 Worldview listeners give $45,000 TODAY? Let me make an editorial comment about the sacrificial gift of Quinn, our brother in Christ from Eswatini, Africa – formerly known as Swaziland. I looked up the average annual salary for someone in Eswatini. What's your guess? How much do you think they make in an entire year? The answer is just $2,974. The average American makes $63,795 per year. In other words, Quinn's gift of $30 is the equivalent of an American giving $643. Wow! That puts Quinn's gift in proper perspective. I just finished reading the late Ann Kiemel's 1976 book entitled I Love the Word Impossible. She had a disarmingly gentle way of talking with absolute strangers about the love of God which prompted many to profess faith in Christ, and inspired hundreds of thousands who heard her speak in person. Her 17 books sold 28 million copies. On page 144, she wrote, “I love the word ‘impossible.' It's one of my favorites because I have a giant of a God inside of me.” KIEMEL: “I come to tell you, I am just one young woman in the world. But I am one. And one plus a giant of a God can do anything!” In the 10 years, I've been voicing this Christian newscast, we have never been further behind in our annual appeal. To man, raising $44,295 in one day seems absolutely impossible. But, you know what? Like Ann Kiemel, I, too, love the word “impossible” because I have a giant of a God inside of me. Listen, if just 37 Worldview listeners pledged the approximate equivalent of what Quinn did from Africa and committed to give $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, God will have raised $22,200. And if another 19 of you pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, God will have raised another $22,800. That adds up to $45,000. That would get us across the finish line to cover three-quarters of our annual budget for the 6-member newscast team by tonight, June 20th at 12 midnight Central. These days, $50 is the cost of buying a family of four a combo meal at Chick-fil-A. Can you go without Chick-fil-A once a month to help fund this newscast for an entire year? We've never raised $45,000 in one day. Never! But, with God, all things are possible. If you feel the Lord prompting you to be one of the 56 donors to pledge either $50/month for 12 months or $100/month for 12 months, go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give on the top right. There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. We're coming up on the July 4th 249th anniversary of that moment. We need 56 Worldview donors to step up today. Especially if you've never given to this ministry before. This is the day we need your help. Who is getting fired up about making a sacrifice? It will ensure we can continue telling the truth about the news from a Biblical perspective -- complete with compelling soundbites, relevant Bible verses, and empowering action steps. Without a doubt, this is a one-of-a-kind Christian newscast. Will you back us today? Just 56 of you? I am truly excited to return to the airwaves on Monday, June 23rd to report back to you about how God touched the hearts of at least 56 faithful listeners. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, June 20th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
For a country you could potentially miss while blinking at a map, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) packs a surprisingly hefty punch. This tiny landlocked kingdom, completely surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, offers an enticing blend of traditional culture, dramatic landscapes, and remarkable wildlife experiences—all without the tourist crowds. At once ancient and modern, Eswatini remains one of Africa's few absolute monarchies, where royal ceremonies coexist with vibrant festivals and adventure tourism.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Kazakhstan for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/TrodPod/shop/trodpod-50-guide-to-eswatini-1812638. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this exceptional episode of Guerrilla History, we continue our series African Revolutions and Decolonization by bringing back guest host Ruehl Muller, senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China (who has been in contact with the CPS for quite some time) and guest Bafanabakhe Sacolo of the Communist Party of Swaziland (both of whom were with us in our previous AR&D episode Struggle Against Africa's Last Absolute Monarchy). This time, we discuss the construction of a culture to uphold the monarchy in Swaziland, the importance of cultural revolution in fighting against the monarchy, and the CPS's efforts on this front. A massive and important conversation, you'll definitely want to share this with comrades! Also subscribe to our Substack (free!) to keep up to date with what we are doing. With so many episodes coming in this series (and beyond), you won't want to miss anything, so get the updates straight to your inbox. guerrillahistory.substack.com Bafanabakhe Sacolo is National Organizing Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland. You can keep up to date with the CPS by following them on Facebook, on Twitter, or by checking out their website. Ruehl Muller is senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, and the editor of the fantastic Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu (buy a physical copy or download the free PDF from Iskra Books). Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
Wie regelmatig iPhones koopt op eBay is het gesneden koek, maar voor de rest van de wereld is het even wennen. De nieuwe naam van Swaziland klinkt voor velen als digitale variant van het aloude bordspel Swatini, terwijl de vlag herinneringen oproept aan potjes backgammon op de computer in de jaren ‘90. En ach, wat zal het ook. Diversiteit vieren we ook op deze manier! Weg met de horizontale driekleuren, weg met standaard landsnamen. En doe ook maar meteen weg kustlijnen, met parlementaire democratieën en met monogame koningen zonder harem. Ja toch? Of gaan we nu iets te snel? We zijn nooit volledig, wel origineel. Geen experts, maar wel liefhebbers. Hebben we tóch iets verkeerd gezegd of zijn we iets cruciaals vergeten? Volg ons en laat het weten.
With this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring you another fascinating case study in our series African Revolutions and Decolonization. This time, a contemporary struggle - the struggle against Africa's last absolute monarchy - Swaziland. We are fortunate to be joined by guest host Ruehl Muller, senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, who has been in contact with the CPS for quite some time. We are also joined by guest Bafanabakhe Sacolo of the Communist Party of Swaziland. A brilliant discussion, and one which you will certainly want to listen to, as our next episode in the AR&D series is on cultural revolution in Swaziland! Also subscribe to our Substack (free!) to keep up to date with what we are doing. With so many episodes coming in this series (and beyond), you won't want to miss anything, so get the updates straight to your inbox. guerrillahistory.substack.com Bafanabakhe Sacolo is National Organizing Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland. You can keep up to date with the CPS by following them on Facebook, on Twitter, or by checking out their website. Ruehl Muller is senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, and the editor of the fantastic Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu (buy a physical copy or download the free PDF from Iskra Books). Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
With this episode of Guerrilla History, we bring you another fascinating case study in our series African Revolutions and Decolonization. This time, a contemporary struggle - the struggle against Africa's last absolute monarchy - Swaziland. We are fortunate to be joined by guest host Ruehl Muller, senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, who has been in contact with the CPS for quite some time. We are also joined by guest Bafanabakhe Sacolo of the Communist Party of Swaziland. A brilliant discussion, and one which you will certainly want to listen to, as our next episode in the AR&D series is on cultural revolution in Swaziland! Also subscribe to our Substack (free!) to keep up to date with what we are doing. With so many episodes coming in this series (and beyond), you won't want to miss anything, so get the updates straight to your inbox. guerrillahistory.substack.com Bafanabakhe Sacolo is National Organizing Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland. You can keep up to date with the CPS by following them on Facebook, on Twitter, or by checking out their website. Ruehl Muller is senior lecturer/associate professor at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation at Xiamen University in China, and the editor of the fantastic Building a People's Art: Selected Works of Trường Chinh and Tố Hữu (buy a physical copy or download the free PDF from Iskra Books). Help support the show by signing up to our patreon, where you also will get bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
are just three of the many subjects in this wide-ranging discussion of performing arts, with D. Paul Thomas, an actor, producer, director and more. For two years, Mr. Thomas taught acting at the historic Lamb's Theatre in New York City, serving as its first Artistic Director while premiering Noel Paul Stookey's, Puff the Magic Dragon. This was followed by seven years as President of Victory Films, directing over twenty productions including the video series, Celebration of Discipline; One Is A Whole Number (Religion in Media Award); the docudramas They Cry in the Night, filmed in Swaziland, Africa, and The Calling, filmed in the Amazon jungles of Peru; the dramatic musicals, The Fanny Crosby Story, Man of the Morning and Love Divine. Feature films include Kiki, starring Emmy Award winner, Michael Moriarty, and Years of the Beast. He has written, directed or performed in seven “one-person” shows, including A Heart Strangely Warmed and Who Stands Fast?
Die Swaziland Solidarity Network het die optrede veroordeel van die Swazi-koninklike polisiemag wat in Manzisi met dwang die nasionale vergadering van die People's United Democratic Movement stopgesit het. Die woordvoerder Mfanafuthi Tsela sê dié verbreking van die basiese reg om byeen te kom en politieke uitdrukking is nog 'n hoofstuk in Mswati se sistematiese veldtog om demokratiese stemme in Swaziland stil te maak. Hy sê die vergadering was ook gemik op die uiteensit van die organisasie se sleutel politieke en organisasie-prioriteite vir die jaar:
“One thing that I want people to understand is that if you live in America, you live in a business and you are a customer in that business.” - Thabiso Mthimkhulu I'm really exited to have Thabiso Mthimkhulu back on the podcast for a follow up conversation. Our discussion on “Redefining Crazy” and how we think about mental health was one of the most popular episodes on Depth Work to date. In this episode, Thabiso and I talk about the roles of metaphor and symbol in the mind-body relationship in sickness and indigenous views of learning to let the body speak. He also opens up about his thoughts on the United States and his home country Eswatini. His piercing insight into the causes of division, violence, and systemic oppression in the US is a call to “remember where you come from” and your own ancestral lineages. In this episode we discuss: the role of symbol and metaphor in understanding sickness letting the body speak America's exploitative systems and societal division Reclaiming your roots Bio: Gogo Ndlondlo (whose given birth name is Thabiso Mthimkhulu) is an Indigenous Zulu and Swazi sangoma, from the lineage of Khuzalingezwa Emzini Wamadoda— born and raised in Hlathikhulu, Swaziland. Gogo Ndlondo was raised in a family of healers who hold a great body of knowledge and wisdom of traditional African herbal and ancestral medicine. Gogo Ndlondo experienced his calling illness, ukuthwasa, as a young child — seeing spirits, hearing voices, time traveling, having visions, and prophetizing about the future. Gogo Ndlondo's access to other realities and ancestral realms was affirmed within his cultural worldview, where his family and community recognized his soul calling as a sangoma— to continue practicing and carrying out this lineage of important healing medicine. Gogo Ndlondlo spent his life in training, and is formally engaged in a multi-year apprenticeship process, under the brilliant guidance and mentorship of Gogo Dabulamandzi in the lineage of Khuzalingezwa Emzini Wamadoda — in Barberton, South Africa. Links @thabisoheals on IG https://www.thabisoheals.com/ Resources: Get videos and bonus episodes: DEPTHWORK.SUBSTACK.COM Get the book: Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health Become a member: The Institute for the Development of Human Arts Train with us: Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum Sessions & Information about the host: JazmineRussell.com Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.
Ellen Kamhi talks with Wendy Read, a certified herbalist, holistic massage therapist, and plant spirit healing practitioner who has studied with herbalists and shamanic healers in Mexico, Guatemala, Swaziland, South Africa, Senegal, and the United States. Since 2005, she has taught at Motherland Sanctuary and many other herbal schools and symposiums. A spiritual counselor and founding minister of the Caretaker's Garden, she also has a clinical, holistic healing family practice. www.caliheal.org
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Worry and Worship (The men's breakfast at Nhlangano, coffee shop) Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Sunday Service Date: 11/27/2024 Length: 52 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Prisoners For Christ (Also translated into SiSwati). Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/26/2024 Length: 42 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Peter's Testimony at a woman's meeting in Big Bend Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/25/2024 Length: 109 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Mission Report from the Kingdom of Swaziland / Eswatini Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 12/4/2024 Length: 24 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: God's Law or Chaos? Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/27/2024 Length: 78 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Kingdom of God Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/26/2024 Length: 60 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Greatness of the Great Commission Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/25/2024 Length: 62 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: How to be Set Free to Serve Christ Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/28/2024 Length: 74 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Gospel of Mark Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 12/1/2024 Length: 49 min.
A new MP3 sermon from Frontline Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Effective Public Speaking Subtitle: Mission to Swaziland 2024 Speaker: Peter Hammond Broadcaster: Frontline Fellowship Event: Special Meeting Date: 11/29/2024 Length: 51 min.
Today's conversation is with Kruise Leeming. Kruise is a professional English rugby league player for Wigan Warriors in the Super League and we record fresh off the back of Wigan winning all four trophies last season. Expect to learn what life was like for Kruise growing up in Swaziland, how he had to adapt to life in the UK, dealing with the loss of his father at 8 years old, and what it really takes to make it in rugby league at the highest level. This conversation is a jam packed hour and I know you'll take a lot away about refusing to fit in, finding the right role models, adjusting your style to get the most out of others around you, and how to set up your life for peak performance in your field. Today's podcast is sponsored and supported by Factory Weights. Heavy on quality, light on price Makes purchasing high quality gym and fitness equipment convenient and affordable. And with next day delivery, you can purchase today and train tomorrow! It is 20% off the entire site with free UK shipping for November and you can benefit from that saving by hitting the link in the show notes - www.factoryweights.co.uk Connect with Kruise: Insta – https://www.instagram.com/leemokruise/ LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/kruise-leeming-35b7a5321 Connect with Col: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/col.cambro/ Email List - https://mailchi.mp/548e38ba5942/colincambro Join patreon - patreon.com/ColCampbell
273 Scale Profits and Win Back Time By Training Teams to Lead with Christian Muntean, Founder at Vantage Consulting; Anchorage, AK, USA If you want different organizational results, tap into a different kind of leadership guru. For this episode, we headed north to Alaska to meet with Christian Muntean, a distinguished authority in leadership training helping CEOs drive improved financial results and business outcomes via improved team dynamics and organizational performance. Recently, he bundled In his book, "Train to Lead," a structured, 90-day path to enhance leadership capabilities. What we value about Christian is not only his immense wealth of knowledge but his down-to-earth approach and delivery. This may be because his early career path is rooted in disaster relief and working with community leaders and non-profits in areas in Russia, Mexico, Guatamala, Panama, the Kingdom of Swaziland, Kenya, South Sudan, and Indonesia. Through his firm, Vantage Consulting, he collaborates with clients across diverse sectors to deliver leadership training that emphasizes personal habits, self-management, and core leadership strengths. Highlights of our conversation: - A smart CEO invests in leadership training at multiple levels. - This training is crucial for preparing individuals for executive roles and developing leaders at all levels within an organization. - Leaders often struggle with transitioning to executive roles and managing the associated stress. If they struggle, your business struggles. - Self-development and personal habits play a significant role in effective leadership. - Self-care is essential for leaders to maintain health, resilience, and the ability to bounce back from challenges. - Creating a conducive space for success involves being your own best boss, prioritizing self-development, balance, and joy in life. Christian Muntean is an advisor to owners, executives, and boards. As the founder of Vantage Consulting, Christian has empowered owners and executives of small and medium-sized businesses to boost their top-line revenues by over $500 million. Even more valuable, they've achieved this while expanding their bottom-line margins and reclaiming precious time for their loved ones and passions. Christian's most recent book, "Train to Lead," is a tested and proven 90-day leadership development guide built on athletic training principles. Christian's clients have included Fortune 500 firms like BP and Conoco Phillips; government entities such as the US Coast Guard and the Alaska State Legislature; large privately held and Alaska Native-owned companies such as Northern Air Cargo and NANA Development; and a variety of other industries. Connect with : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmuntean/ Website: https://www.christianmuntean.com/ Email: christian@vantageconsulting.org Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO #CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Teach Different Podcast, hosts Dan and Steve Fouts are joined by Thandeka Malaza, a mathematician and fellow podcaster from Swaziland, explore a quote by civil rights activist Audre Lorde: “To suppress any truth is to give it power beyond endurance.” The conversation explores various interpretations of truth, personal stories, and the philosophical and ethical implications of lying. They also discuss some historical examples and the role of intention in determining when it might be morally right to suppress the truth. Guest Bio: Having graduated with a Mathematics major, Thandeka enjoys solving problems in her environments and hopes to continuously contribute towards creating better systems. She finds freedom in her pen and expresses most of her ideas on paper and loves to challenge them in conversation with others. She is the host of the socio-cultural podcast, Tea With Tee and the co-founder of a Pan-African book club - It's In The Binding. She finds joy in taking walks, making playlists and community centric activity. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audre_lorde.jpg Elsa Dorfman, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A quick note to the SA Podcaster's Guild, thank you for the History podcast of the year silver award — I shared the honour with the 30 Years of Democracy Podcast, part of the TimesLive stable. It's heart warming to receive some sort of recognition, and thanks mainly to you the listener. With that it's back to episode 195 and we're swinging back to the east, to Zululand, where Chief Mpande kaSenzangakhona of the AmaZulu has not been idle for the last two years. When we last heard about Mpande, after a few years of relative quiet once he took over from Dinging as king of the AmaZulu, he began to plot against the Swazi in late 1840s. As he planned and plotted, in the British outpost called Natal, this territory that abounded Durban, two men had arrived who were to alter South African history. Theophilus Shepstone and Hans Schreuder. More about them in a moment. Mpande thought of Eswatini, Swaziland, as a source of treasure, booty, and a future place of refuge for his people just in case the Boers or the British should advance further into Zululand. The good relations between the Boers and the Swazi, at least running up to the mid-19th Century, meant that Mpande was forced to hold off most of his plans to invade King Mswati's land. It was also along a corridor coveted by not only the AmaZulu and the Swazi, but also by the boers. So his first aim was north west, towards smaller kingdoms where the booty was thinner on the ground, not exactly a plethora of cows, rather a smattering but better than nix. The amaHlubi bore the brunt of Mpande's expansionist aims when he attacked Langalibalele kaMthimkulu who had told his people that from now on, it was he and not Mpande who would control the function of rainmaking. Mpande disagreed. The disputes going on Swazi territory gave the AmaZulu king an opportunity to interfere. If you remember a previous podcast, I'd explained that after Mswati was declared the new young king of the amaSwazi, the senior regent Malambule tried to cling onto power — and was backed in his clinging by Mpande. Enter stage left, a missionary who was on a mission. Enter stage right, a second missionary on another mission. Cast member number one, stage left, Theophilus Shepstone, or Somtseu as the Zulu called him. The other, stage right, was lesser known Norwegian Missionary Society's Hans Schreuder. The latter was well over six feet tall, a powerful man, with a powerful temper. He may have been a bible-wielding man of God, but that didn't stop the Viking blood pumping him up when he was crossed. Schreuder would establish 7 mission stations across Zululand and was going to be extremely useful as Mpande's diplomat. Shepstone's role in our story is a complex combination of missionary, Zulu-phile, Anglophone civiliser in chief — a vast figure in our tale. He would suffer many a baleful settler glare, the colonists believed his pro-Zulu politics were dangerous to their almost infinite demand for labour and land. As the Cape colonials moved towards self-government, Natal became a problem child.
This week on Comfort Eating, Grace is joined by one of the most successful and enduring film stars of the past 40 years: Richard E Grant. The Swaziland-born English actor made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy Withnail and I, and has since starred in the likes of Star Wars, Gosford Park and Saltburn. Richard and Grace chew over the food he ate when he ran away from home as a child, the breakfast he eats every single day but hates, and what exactly he cooked Melissa McCarthy for brunch before the Oscars ceremony. If you liked this episode then have a listen to Grace's conversations with James Norton, David Harewood and Tamsin Greig
Special guest Sarah Sahim joins us to discuss Richard E. Grant's autobiographical film Wah Wah, about the dissolution of his parents marriage and his father's alcoholism, agains the backdrop of the end of British colonial rule in Swaziland. What does this have to do with King Arthur? Well, as a goodbye gift to the visiting Princess Margaret, the British colonial community puts on a production of Camelot with a black Lancelot. A frustrating and frequently incurious film all around that squanders any opportunity to really grapple with the meaning of the end of an empire. Starring Gabriel Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Emily Watson, and Miranda Richardson. Written and directed by Richard E. Grant. To hear the entire episode, join the Mary Versus the Movies patreon for $3/month to hear this and the entire series Hollywood Avalon: https://www.patreon.com/maryvsmovies.
In this episode of Only Business, we dive deeper into the world of behavioral finance. Discover how understanding your psychological biases can transform the way you invest and manage money. Learn practical strategies to overcome financial barriers, improve your investment decisions, and achieve your financial goals. This is Part 2 of our series on the psychology of money—don't miss out on these powerful insights that could change your financial future. Share this episode with friends and colleagues who are ready to take control of their financial lives!
Natan Gamedze (born 1963, Swaziland) is today a Rabbi and lecturer but that is certainly not where he started. Born to the royal lineage of the Gamedze clan of the Kingdom of Eswatini, he converted to Judaism, received rabbinic ordination, and now lectures to Jewish audiences all over the world with his personal story as to how an African prince became a Black Haredi Jewish rabbi.
It's Monday, June 10th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus $130,000 for funeral expenses for martyred missionary couple in Haiti More than $130,000 has been raised online for the funeral and related expenses of husband and wife missionaries who were murdered in Haiti, reports MyChristianDaily.com. Davy and Natalie Lloyd, who served with Missions in Haiti, were killed in a gang attack, as violence has engulfed the nation. One GoFundMe campaign has raised close to $57,000, while a second fundraising effort has raised over $76,000. However, while the generosity of Christians has been exemplary, MissouriNet reports that online scammers are taking advantage of people wanting to help the families. Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker, who is the father of Natalie, explained that con artists have been creating fake fundraising pages to try and steal donations meant to help bring his daughter's body and her husband's body back to the U.S. Israeli Defense Forces rescue four hostages from Gaza Four Israeli hostages were rescued 245 days into their captivity, reports The Jerusalem Post. Working with other law enforcement officials, the Israeli Defense Forces, rescued them from two separate nearby locations in central Gaza in a high-risk joint operation. They include Noa Argamani, age 25, Almog Meir, age 21, Andrey Kozlov, age 27, and Shlomi Ziv, age 40, all of whom were kidnapped by Hamas and brought to the Gaza Strip from the 'Nova' party. This is the third such successful operation to rescue hostages since the war started on October 7th. An uncertain number of Palestinian terrorists and civilians were killed during the operation. The Israeli Defense Forces implied that dozens of terrorists were killed, but left open the possibility that potentially some dozens of Palestinian civilians might have also been killed. Interestingly, the U.S. provided intelligence on the hostages before Israel's successful rescue operation. Biden's DOJ indicts doctor who exposed transgender child mutilation at TX hospital Here in America, Biden's so-called “Department of Justice” is at it again. This time it indicted a small-town surgeon who revealed that ghastly transgender surgeries were being secretly committed on minors at Texas Children's Hospital after the hospital had purportedly discontinued its transgender program, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Dr. Eithan Haim identified himself earlier this year as the anonymous whistleblower who provided evidence of the ongoing so-called “sex-change procedures” for children as young as 11 to Manhattan Institute journalist Christopher Rufo last year. Dr. Haim said that U.S. marshals showed up at his home earlier this week, summoning him to court to face four felony counts of alleged HIPAA violations. Haim, a 33-year-old general surgeon, has always maintained that no medical privacy laws were broken when he provided evidence of Texas Children's Hospital's continued transgender program to Rufo. He told the Daily Wire, “It's my responsibility as a doctor, as a physician, to expose this to the public. If I don't, then this abuse can continue. I knew that future generations, like my children, would never be able to forgive me if they knew I had the chance to do something and I decided to stay silent. It requires average, everyday doctors to stand up and speak out against things like this.” Luke 12:2-3 says, "God has determined that the secrets will be uncovered, the truth will come forth, and God's thought about every behavior and action will be vindicated." Voddie Baucham: Pervasive sexual sin sign of God's judgment Pastor Voddie Baucham warned that the pervasive sexual sins of the prevailing culture are signs of divine judgment, but that the Gospel still offers hope and that American Christians should plead with God for revival while preparing for persecution. Baucham, who is on leave in the U.S. from his position as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia, preached from Romans 1 during an event last Saturday at Lamar Baptist Church outside Dallas. He cited some of the points he made in his new book entitled It's Not Like Being Black: How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement. Baucham noted the irony that he was making his remarks on the first day of pride month, which he referred to as "pride goes before destruction month." He noted that the Apostle Paul ultimately spends much of the first chapter of Romans explaining how the wrath of God manifests in the world by giving mankind over to sexual depravity and "a debased mind.” Romans 1:18-19, 26 says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. … Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” Baucham said, "We are living in a time, in an era when there are people who are desperately wicked, and in desperate need of repentance and faith, in desperate need of the Gospel.” In describing the evil culture in Romans 1, he said that the destruction starts with a denial of God and His authority, as well as a desire to suppress the truth, which he noted has long been readily apparent in modern culture. Baucham said that the consequence of such a worldview, first leads to general sexual immorality, which he explained first manifested in the Sexual Revolution and in the separation of sex from marital commitment and family. He also said contraceptives, abortion and the crisis of fatherlessness are connected to such an attitude. Baucham then explained that "dishonorable passions" are the next stage of divine judgment against a wicked culture, and suggested that the scale at which modern society is subject to them is historically unprecedented. … “Whenever we're pursuing one of God's good gifts outside of the boundaries wherein God gives that gift, it never brings us the satisfaction that we crave. And on top of that, it always brings us guilt and shame." Correction on Dwight D. Eisenhower's title In Friday's newscast, I incorrectly claimed that Dwight D. Eisenhower was a Major General on D-Day. Actually, his title on June 6, 1944 was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. My apologies. 24 Worldview listeners gave $7,268 And finally, toward our goal of raising $28,550 by this weekend to help keep the newscast on the air, 24 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate. That's the most response we have had since Monday, June 7th. Our thanks to Daniel in Mexico City, Mexico who gave $5, Nathan in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia who gave $25, Gjon and Lynne in Bridgewater, Massachusetts who gave $33, as well as Jeremy in Grants Pass, Oregon, Jeffrey in Forest Hill, Maryland, and Patricia in Portland, Oregon – each of whom gave $50. We're grateful to Jennifer in Coos Bay, Oregon, Timothy in Pine Plains, New York, and Logan, Eli and Quin in Mhlambanyatsi, Eswatini or Swaziland, Africa -- each of whom gave $100 We appreciate Bianca in Mhlambanyatsi, Eswatini pledged $10 per month for 12 months for a gift of $120, Tristan in Summerdale, Alabama who gave $140, Robin in Simsbury, Connecticut $150, Peter in Seaside, California and Julie in Marion, Indiana – both of whom gave $200, as well as an anonymous donor in Independence, Missouri who gave $280. We're grateful to God for Jared in Caldwell, Idaho who pledged $25 per month for 12 months for a gift of $300, Erica in Littleton, Colorado who gave $365, as well as Merlin in Middlebury, Indiana and James in Kennewick, Washington – both of whom gave $500. And we were moved by the sacrifice of Sarah in Madera, California who gave $600, William in Lees Summit, Missouri and Steven in Plainview, Texas – both of whom pledged $50 per month for 12 months for a gift of $600 each, Carl in San Antonio, Texas who gave $1,000, and Robert in Boerne, Texas who pledged $100 per month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200. Those 24 Worldview donors gave $7,268. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (sound effect of drum roll) $14,583 (audience cheering) So, we fell short of our goal by $13,967. By this Friday, June 14th, our midway point in our month-long fundraiser, we need to raise an additional $42,517 toward our final goal of $114,200 to fund the 6-person team that makes this newscast come to life. We're looking for 10 Worldview listeners to pledge $100 per month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, 35 folks to pledge $50 per month for 12 months for a gift of $600, and 70 people to pledge $25 per month for 12 months for a gift of $300. It would be exciting to see 30 new donors step up to the plate today. Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on “Give,” select the dollar amount you'd like, and click on the recurring button if that's your wish. And, if you haven't written me yet, share in 2-4 sentences what you appreciate about The Worldview. Make sure to include your city and state and country if outside America. Send your thoughts to Adam@TheWorldview.com. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, June 10th in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.