People of the Keys!

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
(Psalm 119:105)

A Light

Dear Friends,

Greetings! Continuing on from last weeks introduction concerning the topic of the Septuagint we wanted to bring out a few additional points and perhaps clarify some questions that have arisen.

As we pointed out last week, there are definite differences between the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and the majority of Bibles used today which were translated from the Masoretic Hebrew version of the Bible.

In our limited study and comparison of the English translation, we have found changes between the Septuagint and the King James version of the Bible, much of which was supposed to have been translated from the Masoretic Hebrew. The changes we have found so far are not critical enough when it comes to a matter of our faith. We have found nothing to date that would alter ours or we believe anyone elses faith in our basic beliefs.

We gave some examples last week on some of the differences and we now wanted to present a few more examples.

Here is a comparison of Genesis, chapter two, verse six:

The King James version says: “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.”

The Septuagint version says: “But there rose a fountain out of the earth, and watered the whole face of the earth.” Other versions of the Bible use the words streams and spring.

As you can see, it is different but it does not affect our beliefs.

Incidentally as we pointed out last week, the new covenant, the New Testament was originally written in Greek so this is not an issue with the New Testament.

Another example we used last week was Isaiah 7:14.

Quoting from last weeks introduction: “Isaiah 7:14: The Septuagint clearly writes of a virgin (Greek παρθένος) that shall conceive. While the Hebrew text was, according to Irenaeus, at that time interpreted by Theodotion and Aquila (both proselytes of the Jewish faith) as a young woman that shall conceive.”

Now look at the King James version of this verse: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Although much of the King James version of the Bible was translated from the Hebrew Masoretic Old Testament, God still had the translaters of the King James version get the translation correct.

What we are pointing out is that we would not want anyone to lose faith in the King James version of the Old Testament. From what we have seen to date the differences are not great enough to affect our faith in the translation at all. And as we have pointed out the New Testament having been first written in Greek and then translated into English is not effected by the Hebrew Masoretic Old Testament.

One interesting change we did see was in Daniel, chapter nine, verse twenty-five. This chapter of course is the prophecy dealing with Jesus' first and second coming. ( Click here for a fuller explanation.)

The English translation for the Septuagint reads: “And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks; and then the time shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.”

From the King James version the same verse reads: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

As you can see one verse says “Christ the prince” and the other says “Messiah the Prince”.

Christ and Messiah are referring to the same person obviously, Jesus.

It may be a bit surprising to see the word “Christ” used in the Old Testament.

The reason we see Jesus the Christ used in the Bible is because Christ is not as much a name but more of a title or job description. Note the following verses.

“Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” John 7:26, 40-41, John 4:42.

Similar to John the Baptist. The Christ, who was Jesus, was to be the Saviour of the world.

This also helps to explain why the Hebrew Masoretic Old Testament came into being, to make it less christological. Most of the prophecy, from what we understand, in the Hebrew Old Testament is basically unchanged since the Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ and still believed there Messiah was to yet come.

So hope this clears things up on how relevant the English King James Version of the Bible continues to be.

Have a great week ahead.

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Remember, the first casualty in any war is the truth!

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THE CATHOLIC REGISTER

Bishop Tony Palmer, ecumenical officer of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches

Pope Francis reaches out to evangelical, charismatic leaders

BY DEBORAH GYAPONG, CANADIAN CATHOLIC NEWS

July 10, 2014

OTTAWA -Pope Francis has taken the first steps towards forging unprecedented bonds with evangelical and charismatic Protestant groups, CCN has learned.

The Pope met for three hours June 24 with several evangelical and charismatic leaders over lunch at his residence inside the Vatican. Occurring outside of the Pope’s official schedule, the meeting had no formal agenda or secretaries present.

Bishop Tony Palmer, ecumenical officer of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (CEEC), said the meeting could lead towards concrete steps for a visible unity after 500 years of division.

Following a discussion about religious persecution and religious liberty, the Pope and his guests discussed the creation of a global initiative specifically for the persecuted Church, according to Brian Stiller, global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).

In a report for Revival Magazine, Bruno Ierullo, co-chairman of United in Christ North America, who did not attend the meeting, said it marked “the beginning of a Joint Declaration between this large faction of the Evangelical world and the Roman Catholic Church.” United in Christ promotes ongoing dialogue between emerging charismatic churches and the Roman Catholic Church.

A Vatican spokesman said the meeting was an example of the Pope’s outreach to all Christians.

“The Holy Father’s passion for authentic ecumenism flows from the heart of a seasoned pastor who has spent many years of priestly and episcopal ministry in building bridges, not walls,” said Fr. Tom Rosica, English language assistant to the Holy See Press Office and CEO of Canada’s Salt + Light Television. “What he does now as Bishop of Rome is in continuity with his ministry in Argentina, and in perfect harmony with the message of the Second Vatican Council and the teaching of the Church.”

Rosica said Pope Francis expressed to one of the pastors, who was well known to the him from their time together in Buenos Aires, his desire to visit the pastor's church in Caserta. The visit will be a strictly private, simple and quick visit that would most likely take place on July 26.

The driving force behind the meeting was Palmer. He acted as translator for Pope Francis, who spoke in Italian to the English-speaking group. For the past 10 years under three popes, at the invitation of the Church, Palmer has worked with the Catholic charismatic movement in Rome and elsewhere, including a stint in Buenos Aires, where he befriended the future pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

“We met Pope Francis — we are accepting his call and trying to put an end to division,” Palmer said in an interview from South Africa where he was attending a meeting.

The delegation asked Pope Francis “to offer us further insight into how we can make a common declaration — a public, visible joint declaration of our unity in the faith and unity in mission,” Palmer said.

“Pope Francis agrees with me when I say diversity is divine, but division is diabolic,” Palmer said.

Palmer said this is “uncharted territory” and that there is “no protocol for what we are doing.”

“We are trying to be courageous men of God,” he said. “The Holy Spirit is our captain.”

As a result of this initial discussion, the WEA will have three days of formal meetings with various dicasteries in Rome (including another meeting with the Pope) on fall dates to be determined, said Stiller, who spent 16 years as president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) and another 16 as president of Tyndale University in Toronto.

In addition to Stiller and Ierullo, the June 24 meeting included WEA head Geoff Tunnicliffe, WEA’s theological commission chair Thomas Schirrmacher, and Canadians John and Carol Arnott, founders of Catch the Fire. Also attending were popular American televangelists James and Betty Robison, founders of Life Outreach Int., and Kenneth Copeland, founder of KCM Ministries.

Stiller said the leaders are interested in finding “ways we can work together on the broad apologetics.”

“Make no mistake, this Pope is tough,” he said. “He will not put up with nonsense. But he is also loving and very much in tune with the life and the ways of the Spirit.”

The Pope stressed focusing on areas of friendship and companionship in Christ, not on doctrinal differences, Stiller said.

“I understand Rome will not give up anything,” he said. “They will hold to their classic doctrine. Jesus’ prayer for unity does not mean sameness and we both agreed that there was strength in diversity and our diversity as Christians is not something to be trifled with.”

Stiller noted that in Canada, the EFC and the Catholic bishops have worked together on many issues. There is so much agreement on doctrines such as the Trinity, on human sexuality, marriage, on the persecuted Church, the importance of Scripture. “The places of co-operation are huge,” he said.

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boston.com

Evangelical Christians Love Jews, But the Feeling Is Not Mutual

White Christian Evangelicals like Jews. Jews do not like Christian Evangelicals

By Eric Levenson

Boston.com Staff

JULY 16, 2014 5:14 PM

Jews and Evangelical Christians have a bit of a one-sided relationship, according to a new poll from Pew surveying religious group’s opinions of other religions. Evangelicals have very warm feelings toward Jews. Jews do not reciprocate that warmth.

The Pew poll asked people of varying religions to rate their feelings about other religions on a “feeling thermometer” from 0 to 100, with ‘0’ as cold/negative and ‘100’ as hot/positive. Among all responses, both Jews and Evangelical Christians were two of the three most warmly rated: Jews at 63 degrees and Evangelicals at 61 on average.

But looking closer at how each religion rated other religions, there’s an awkward split. In the chart below, we’ve circled in red the key numbers.

On the upper left side of the chart, we see White Evangelical Christians rate Jews at a warm 69 degrees, making Evangelics the biggest fans of Jews among the religions surveyed. Jewish people, meanwhile, rated Evangelical Christians at a chilly 34 degrees. Jews felt colder toward Evangelical Chrstians than they did any other religious group.

That contrast of feelings wasn’t seen among any other reported poll results. For example, Jews rated Catholics at a positive 58 degrees, and Catholics rated Jews at a similar 61 degrees.

The Jewish-Evangelical relationship was one of many interesting factoids to pick out from Pew’s extensive data study. The Washington Post notes that Democrats’ least-liked religious group are Mormons, partly a result of lingering Romney resentment. The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, points out that Muslims and Atheists were rated in the least favorable light.

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examiner.com

NASA & Library of Congress prepare for discovery of ET & alien baptism

Michael Salla

Honolulu Exopolitics Examiner

July 16, 2014

From September 18-19, 2014, NASA and the Library of Congress are hosting a symposium on how society can prepare for the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Leading astrobiologists from around the world will convene at the Library of Congress in Washington DC., to discuss the latest scientific theories and developments in the search for extraterrestrial life. Presenters will discuss the implications from recent scientific breakthroughs in discovering the existence of exoplanets, new theories of the conditions under which extraterrestrial life can flourish, and how to communicate with them. In addition to broad discussion of the societal implications of discovering alien life and how to prepare for these, two of the presenters will discuss the theological implications. More specifically, Brother Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit from the Vatican Observatory, will discuss “Would you Baptise an Extraterrestrial?” Consolmagno’s topic suggests that the Vatican approves viewing preparation for the discovery of intelligent alien life as an opportunity for gaining new recruits to the Christian faith.

The full title of the Symposium is “Preparing for Discovery: A Rational Approach to the Implications of Finding Microbial, Complex or Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.” The Symposium describes recent scientific advances in finding conditions suitable for extraterrestrial life, and what this means:

Beyond Earth, science has identified more than 1,400 exoplanets. That life thrives in multifarious conditions, coupled with these potentially habitable exoplanets and the detection of life-giving elements on numerous moons on asteroids, means we must face the possibility that simple or complex organisms may be discovered beyond Earth. How might we prepare for such a discovery?

The main goal of the Symposium is then described as exploring “how we prepare to face new knowledge that may challenge our very conceptions of life and our place in the universe.”

Steven Dick, the Symposium Chair, will set the stage for discussion of the societal implications of the discovery of alien life in his talk on “Astrobiology and Society.” He will then be followed by a panel session titled, “Philosophical Impact: How Do We Comprehend The Philosophical and Theological Challenges Raised by Discovery? A total of five presenters will discuss philosophical and theological implications. Robin Lovin will discuss “Astrobiology and Theology,” and set the stage for Consolmagno to discuss alien baptism.

It is not surprising that the Vatican views preparation for discovery of intelligent alien life as an opportunity for gaining new recruits to the Christian faith. What is surprising is that NASA and the Library of Congress are providing a forum for discussion of the theological implications of the discovery of extraterrestrial life when important political, national security and economic implications are not considered by any of the speakers. For example, would it be justified to cover up such a discovery on national security grounds, for how long, and has this already happened? It’s hard to understand NASA’s reasoning for including theological considerations unless it thinks that it will benefit from the US Congress and Vatican supporting Christian missionaries seeking to baptize visiting or off world aliens.

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Evolution and the End-Times Alien Deception - Part 2

Click to View PDF online
or Right-click to Download PDF.

Evolution and the End-Times Alien Deception - Part 2

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cnsnews.com

Schumer to Religious Americans: Pick One--Your Faith or Your Business

July 10, 2014 - 4:13 PM

By Eric Scheiner

(CNSNews.com) - At a press conference Thursday, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said people with religious beliefs who disagree with the Obamacare contraception mandate should be given a choice between living by their faith or being allowed to form a corporation to do business.

“You’re born with a religion or you adopt a religion. You have to obey the precepts of that religion and the government gives you a wide penumbra – you don’t have to form a corporation,” Schumer said.

In the Hobby Lobby case, decided last month, the Supreme Court ruled that a closely-held family-owned corporation could not be forced by the government to violate their Christian beliefs by providing insurance coverage for drugs and devices that can cause abortions. Schumer argues that the court "misapplied" the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

“When we wrote RFRA back in 1993 we did so to protect individuals with strong religious beliefs and give them the presumption they have always enjoyed. That they should be able to exercise their religious beliefs without interference from the government”, Schumer said.

“The court took that and applied it – misapplied it – to for-profit companies who exist for the purpose of benefitting from the open market, working in the marketplace under our laws.”

“We wouldn’t tell the owners of Hobby Lobby to convert to a different religion or disobey their religion - but we don’t say that they have to open up a company and go sell toys or hobby kits.”

Schumer’s comments came at a conference to push the Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act, a Democratic bill aimed at forcing employers to abide by the ObamaCare contraception mandate reversing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the issue.

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MailOnline

Methane explosion? Meteorite crater? Scientists baffled by gigantic 262ft hole that has appeared at Siberia's 'End of The World'

Enormous crater appears suddenly in part of Russia whose name translates as 'the end of the world'
Teams of scientists are rushing east to fathom the cause of this unusual - and rare - geographical occurrence
One especially outlandish theory talks about a UFO landing as a possible cause of this colossal chasm in the earth

By TRAVELMAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 10:07 EST, 15 July 2014 | UPDATED: 07:39 EST, 16 July 2014

An urgent expedition will leave tomorrow to probe a giant crater that has appeared in gas-rich northern Siberia.

Extraordinary aerial images show a mysterious hole which experts say may be up to 262 feet wide, in the Yamal Peninsula of northern Russia.

'A scientific team has been sent to investigate the hole and is due to arrive at the scene on Wednesday,' The Siberian Times has reported.

What on earth is it? This enormous hole has appeared in a remote corner of Russia - and scientists are searching for answers

The cause of the hole's sudden appearance in Yamal - which translates as 'the end of the world' - in the far north of Siberia is not yet known.

There has been web speculation about the crater indicating 'the arrival of a UFO craft'.

But one Russian expert says the cause is more likely to be global warming releasing gases under the surface, which then explode like a champagne cork.

Experts say that the darkening around the inner rim of the crater indicates 'severe burning' which scorched its edges.

Another theory is that the hole was formed by a meteorite striking this lonely spot in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, some 20 miles from the Bovanenkovo gas field.

'There is agreement that soil around the hole was thrown out of the crater, large enough for several Mi-8 helicopters to fly into it,' The Siberian Times reported - before adding 'not that they have.'

The expedition organised by the Yamal authorities includes experts from Russia's Centre for the Study of the Arctic, and also the Cryosphere Institute of the Academy of Sciences.

The mysterious hole is in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, some 20 miles from the Bovanenkovo gas field

They plan to take samples of soil, air and water from the scene.

They will be accompanied by a specialist from Russia's Emergencies Ministry.

A spokesman for the ministry's Yamal branch has ruled out a meteorite, but says it is too early to say what caused the hole.

'We can definitely say that it is not a meteorite,' he says.

Anna Kurchatova from the Sub-Arctic Scientific Research Centre, thinks the crater was formed by a mixture of water, salt and gas igniting an underground explosion, a result of global warming.

Gas accumulated in ice could have mixed with sand beneath the surface, and then mixed with salt.

Some 10,000 years ago this area was a sea.

Global warming may have caused an 'alarming' melt in the under-soil ice, released gas and causing an effect like the popping of a Champagne bottle cork, Ms Kurchatova suggests.

Yamal, a large peninsula jutting into Arctic waters, is Russia's main production area for gas supplied to Europe.

(“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” Revelation 9:1-3

This is of course not the fullfillment of this verse but it does demonstrate the possibilities.)

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RIA Novosti

Russia Considering ‘Surgical Strike’ on Ukraine - Report

A house in Donetsk, a town in southern Russia’s Rostov Region, hit by a shell fired from the Ukrainian side of the border

10:40 14/07/2014

MOSCOW, July 14 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow is considering “surgical retaliatory strikes” on the Ukrainian territory after the standoff has led to first civilian victims among Russians on Russia’s territory, a Kremlin source told Kommersant Monday.

“Our patience is not boundless,” the source told the newspaper, stressing that “this means not a massive action but exclusively targeted single strikes on positions from which the Russian territory is fired at.”

The Russian side “knows for sure the site where the fire comes from,” the source said.

The proposed plan echoes a statement by a deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house, Yevgeniy Bushmin, who told RIA Novosti Sunday that using precision weapons in response to Ukraine’s shelling would prevent further Kiev’s attacks of Russia’s territory.

«There is a feeling that if before firing was not aimed against Russian border guards, now provocations have been on the rise as there is no other means of forcing us to join in the standoff with Ukraine’s security troops," said Bushmin who represents Rostov Region in the Federation Council.

«The only way to fight against this like civilized countries do, namely the US and the EU. We should use precision weapons, like Israel, to destroy those who fired this shell [on Russia’s Donetsk]," the lawmaker said.

On Sunday, one Russian citizen was killed when a shell exploded in a yard of a house in Donetsk, a town in southern Russia’s Rostov Region. Another shell hit a house, injuring two women, a 82-year-old mother and her daughter. The elderly woman was hospitalized with brain concussion and fractures.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday it protests the shelling calling it a provocation that might have irreversible consequences. Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said earlier that Russia promises «harsh demarches» against Ukrainian authorities over the incident.

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Aol.com

Emerging nations plan their own world bank, IMF

Jul 14th 2014 7:23PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff talk during a meeting at Planalto Palace in Brasilia on July 14, 2014. Putin is in Brazil to attend the BRICS summit. AFP PHOTO/EVARISTO SA (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Fed up with U.S. dominance of the global financial system, five emerging market powers this week will launch their own versions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -the so-called BRICS countries - are seeking "alternatives to the existing world order," said Harold Trinkunas, director of the Latin America Initiative at the Brookings Institution.

At a summit Tuesday through Thursday in Brazil, the five countries will unveil a $100 billion fund to fight financial crises, their version of the IMF. They will also launch a World Bank alternative, a new bank that will make loans for infrastructure projects across the developing world.

The five countries will invest equally in the lender, tentatively called the New Development Bank. Other countries may join later.

The BRICS powers are still jousting over the location of the bank's headquarters - Shanghai, Moscow, New Delhi or Johannesburg. The headquarters skirmish is part of a larger struggle to keep China, the world's second-biggest economy, from dominating the new bank the way the United States has dominated the World Bank.

The bloc comprises countries with vastly different economies, foreign policy aims and political systems - from India's raucous democracy to China's one-party state.

Whatever their differences, the BRICS countries have a shared desire for a bigger voice in global economic policy. Each has had painful experiences with Western financial dominance: They've contended with economic sanctions imposed by Western powers. Or they've been forced to make painful budget cuts and meet other strict conditions to qualify for emergency IMF loans.

Now, says Thomas Wright, a fellow at Brookings' Project on International Order and Strategy, "they want a safety net if they fall out with the West."

Developing countries have also been frustrated because the U.S. Congress has refused to approve legislation providing extra money to help the IMF make more loans to countries in trouble. The money is part of a broader reform program that would give China and other developing countries more voting power at the IMF.

Uri Dadush, an economist with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sees no problem with the BRICS countries' development bank and financial crisis fund. But he worries that the five countries' decision to go outside of existing institutions provides more evidence of the "fracturing of the postwar (economic) system that gave us so much peace and prosperity. The system has not been able to adapt to the new reality, the rise of the new powers."

The IMF and the World Bank seem to be taking the new challengers in stride.

"All initiatives that seek to strengthen the network of multilateral lending institutions and increase the available financing for development and infrastructure are welcome," said IMF spokeswoman Conny Lotze. "What is important is that any new institutions complement the existing ones."

Answering a question about the BRICS development bank earlier this month, World Bank President Jim Kim said: "We welcome any new organizations ... We think that the need for new investments in infrastructure is massive, and we think that we can work very well and cooperatively with any of these new banks once they become a reality."

ENENEWS

Japan Doctor: “Tokyo should no longer be inhabited”

Dr. Shigeru Mita’s essay published in the newsletter of Association of Doctors in Kodaira (Tokyo), translated by WNSCR, July 16, 2014: Why did I leave Tokyo? To my fellow doctors, I closed the clinic in March 2014, which had served the community of Kodaira for more than 50 years, since my father’s generation, and I have started a new Mita clinic in Okayama-city on April 21. [...] It is clear that Eastern Japan and Metropolitan Tokyo have been contaminated with radiation [...] contamination in the east part [of Tokyo] is 1000-4000 Bq/kg and the west part is 300-1000 Bq/kg. [...] 0.5-1.5 Bq/kg before 2011. [...] Tokyo should no longer be inhabited [...] Contamination in Tokyo is progressing, and further worsened by urban radiation concentration [...] radiation levels on the riverbeds [...] in Tokyo have increased drastically in the last 1-2 years. [...] Ever since 3.11, everybody living in Eastern Japan including Tokyo is a victim, and everybody is involved. [...] The keyword here is “long-term low-level internal irradiation.” This differs greatly from medical irradiation or simple external exposure to radiation. [...] People are truly suffering from this utter lack of support. [...] If the power to save our citizens and future generations exists somewhere, it [is] in the hands of individual clinical doctors ourselves. [...] Residents of Tokyo are unfortunately not in the position to pity the affected regions of Tohoku because they are victims themselves. Time is running short. [...]

Dr. Mita on patient symptoms since 2011: White blood cells, especially neutrophils, are decreasing among children [...] Patients report nosebleed, hair loss, lack of energy, subcutaneous bleeding, visible urinary hemorrhage, skin inflammations [...] we began to notice changes in children’s blood test results around mid-2013 [...] Other concerns I have include symptoms reported by general patients, such as persistent asthma and sinusitis [...] high occurrences of rheumatic polymyalgia [...] Changes are also noticeable in the manifestation of contagious diseases such as influenza, hand-foot-and-mouth disease and shingles. […]

ECONOMIC COLLAPSE

20 SIGNS THE EPIC DROUGHT IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES IS STARTING TO BECOME APOCALYPTIC

When scientists start using phrases such as "the worst drought" and "as bad as you can imagine", you know that things are bad

by MICHAEL SNYDER

JULY 16, 2014

When scientists start using phrases such as “the worst drought” and “as bad as you can imagine” to describe what is going on in the western half of the country, you know that things are bad. Thanks to an epic drought that never seems to end, we are witnessing the beginning of a water crisis that most people never even dreamed was possible in this day and age. The state of California is getting ready to ban people from watering their lawns and washing their cars, but if this drought persists we will eventually see far more extreme water conservation measures than that. And the fact that nearly half of all of the produce in America comes out of the state of California means that ultimately this drought is going to deeply affect all of us. Food prices have already been rising at an alarming rate, and the longer this drought goes on the higher they will go. Let us hope and pray that this drought is permanently broken at some point, because otherwise we could very well be entering an era of extreme water rationing, gigantic dust storms and crippling food prices. The following are 20 signs that the epic drought in the western half of the United States is starting to become apocalyptic…

#1 According to the Los Angeles Times, downtown Los Angeles is now the driest that it has been since records began being kept all the way back in 1877.

#2 The California State Water Resources Control Board says that nearly 50 communities are already on the verge of running out of water.

#3 In a desperate attempt to conserve water, the state of California is considering banning watering lawns and washing cars. Once implemented, violators will be slapped with a $500 fine for each offense.

#4 It has been reported that a new social media phenomenon known as “drought shaming” has begun in California. People are taking videos and photos of their neighbors wasting water and posting them to Facebook and Twitter.

#5 Climate scientist Tim Barnett says that the water situation in Las Vegas “is as bad as you can imagine“, and he believes that unless the city “can find a way to get more water from somewhere” it will soon be “out of business”.

#6 The water level in Lake Mead has now fallen to the lowest level since 1937, and it continues to drop at a frightening pace. You can see some incredible photos of what has happened to Lake Mead right here.

#7 Rob Mrowka of the Center for Biological Diversity believes that the city of Las Vegas is going to be forced to downsize because of the lack of water…

The drought is like a slow spreading cancer across the desert. It’s not like a tornado or a tsunami, bang. The effects are playing out over decades. And as the water situation becomes more dire we are going to start having to talk about the removal of people (from Las Vegas).

#8 In some areas of southern Nevada, officials are actually paying people to remove their lawns in a desperate attempt to conserve water.

#9 According to Accuweather, “more than a decade of drought” along the Colorado River has set up an “impending Southwest water shortage” which could ultimately affect tens of millions of people.

#10 Most people don’t realize this, but the once mighty Colorado River has become so depleted that it no longer runs all the way to the ocean.

#11 Lake Powell is less than half full at this point.

#12 It is being projected that the current drought in California will end up costing the state more than 2 billion dollars this year alone.

#13 Farmers in California are allowing nearly half a million acres to lie fallow this year due to the extreme lack of water.

#14 The lack of produce coming from the state of California will ultimately affect food prices in the entire nation. Just consider the following statistics from a recent Business Insider article…

California is one of the U.S.’s biggest food producers — responsible for almost half the country’s produce and nuts and 25% of our milk and cream. Eighty percent of the world’s almonds come from the state, and they take an extraordinary amount of water to produce — 1.1 gallons per almond.

#15 As underground aquifers are being relentlessly drained in California, some areas of the San Joaquin Valley are sinking by 11 inches a year.

#16 It is being projected that the Kansas wheat harvest will be the worst that we have seen since 1989.

#17 The extended drought has created ideal conditions for massive dust storms to form.

#18 Things are so dry in California right now that people are actually starting to steal water. For example, one Mendocino County couple recently had 3,000 gallons of water stolen from them. It was the second time this year that they had been hit.

#19 At the moment, close to 80 percent of the state of California is experiencing either “extreme” or “exceptional” drought.

#20 National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Boldt says that this is “the worst drought we probably have seen in our lifetime“.

Most people just assume that this drought will be temporary, but experts tell us that there have been “megadroughts” throughout history in the western half of the United States that have lasted for more than 100 years.

If we have entered one of those eras, it is going to fundamentally change life in America.

And the frightening thing is that much of the rest of the world is dealing with water scarcity issues right now as well. In fact, North America is actually in better shape than much of Africa and Asia. For much more on this, please see my previous article entitled “25 Shocking Facts About The Earth’s Dwindling Water Resources“.

Without plenty of fresh water, modern civilization is not possible.

And right now, the western United States and much of the rest of the world is starting to come to grips with the fact that we could be facing some very serious water shortages in the years ahead.

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Natural News

Huge new study proves organic foods are healthier and more nutritious: results immediately attacked by chemical agriculture industry

Wednesday, July 16, 2014 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) The most comprehensive analysis ever performed comparing organic foods with those "conventionally" grown with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers has concluded that organic fruits and vegetables are not just less toxic but actually more nutritious than conventional produce.  The difference between organic and conventional produce was so striking, the researchers said, that switching to an all-organic diet might be the nutritional equivalent of adding one or two daily servings of fruits and vegetables to your diet.  "The crucially important thing about this research is that it shatters the myth that how we farm does not affect the quality of the food we eat," said Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association, who was not involved in the study.  Yet the findings were downplayed in news reports, which quoted prominent nutritionists minimizing the nutritional differences found and ignoring the issue of pesticides completely. 

Significant differences

The peer-reviewed study was funded by the European Union and the Sheepdrove Trust, conducted by an international research team and published in the British Journal of Nutrition. The researchers analyzed 343 prior peer-reviewed studies from around the world that had measured differences between organic and conventional fruits, vegetables and grains. It is the largest meta-analysis on the topic ever conducted.

The researchers found that there was a statistically significant difference in the nutritional content of organic and conventional produce, with organic fruits and vegetables containing between 19 percent and 69 percent more antioxidants than their conventional counterparts.

Although no studies have yet been conducted to compare the long-term health differences between those who follow mostly organic versus mostly conventional diets, the researchers note that antioxidants such as those found in higher concentrations in organic foods "have previously been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers."

The higher antioxidant levels found are equivalent to the amount in "one to two of the five portions of fruits and vegetables recommended to be consumed daily," the researchers wrote,

"and would therefore be significant and meaningful in terms of human nutrition, if information linking these [compounds] to the health benefits associated with increased fruit, vegetable and whole grain consumption is confirmed."

In addition to the nutritional benefits, the researchers also found that conventional produce and grains were four times more likely to contain pesticide residues than their organic counterparts, and also contained significantly higher concentrations of the toxic heavy metal cadmium. These differences were also statistically significant.

"This study demonstrates that choosing food produced according to organic standards can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals," said lead author Carlo Leifert of Newcastle University. "This constitutes an important addition to the information currently available to consumers which until now has been confusing and in many cases is conflicting."

Short-sighted nutritionists fight back

Media reports have largely portrayed the study's findings as controversial and have quoted nutritionists skeptical of the results. The study's critics have mostly focused on casting doubt on the health benefits of antioxidants, or expressing concern that encouraging people to eat more organic foods would (due to the cost difference) cause them to eat less fruits and vegetables overall.

"Ultimately we all need to eat more fruit and vegetables regardless of whether they are organic or not to form part of a healthy balanced diet, which will help protect health," said Dr. Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England.

By and large, these critics have ignored the findings that organic foods were also lower in pesticides and heavy metals, even though many pesticides are known to accumulate in the human body and cause serious health problems at even very low concentrations.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.theguardian.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

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