Author Archives: stuartbramhall

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About stuartbramhall

Retired child and adolescent psychiatrist and American expatriate in New Zealand. In 2002, I made the difficult decision to close my 25-year Seattle practice after 15 years of covert FBI harassment. I describe the unrelenting phone harassment, illegal break-ins and six attempts on my life in my 2010 book The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee.

Book on Alternative Cancer Treatments Banned by Amazon

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Rhoda Wilson

Dr. Paul Marik’s book ‘Cancer Care: The Role of Repurposed Drugs and Metabolic Interventions in Treating Cancer’ disappeared from Amazon without any warning. The next day, on 17 September, Amazon emailed Dr. Marik saying that his account had been terminated for spreading misinformation which was damaging to their customers.

“With that, they’ve essentially banned me from ever having another account at Amazon,” Dr. Marik said.

“Obviously this is pure censorship,” he said.

“I need to emphasise,” he said, “that this [book] is highly referenced … there are over 860 peer-reviewed references.  Almost every statement is referenced by the peer-reviewed literature … This is not misleading information.  This is scientifically valid information from the peer-reviewed medical literature.”

Dr. Marik is a pulmonary and critical care specialist and Chief Scientific Officer of Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (“FLCCC Alliance”). He is one of the FLCCC’s founding members and is involved in the development of its protocols.

His book ‘Cancer Care: The Role of Repurposed Drugs and Metabolic Interventions in Treating Cancer’ provides a comprehensive review of the published literature on repurposed drugs and metabolic interventions for treating cancer.  The book is not intended as a standalone guide for treating cancer, but rather as a well-researched clearinghouse of information that picks up where traditional cancer therapies leave off.

First published in 2023, it is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, patients and researchers seeking to understand the role of repurposed drugs and metabolic interventions in cancer treatment.

In the book, Dr. Marik emphasises the importance of thinking creatively about readily available interventions, backed by science, to improve patient outcomes.  The book highlights options for repurposed drugs that can be used in cancer treatment.  It also discusses metabolic interventions such as:

  • Vitamin D3 and its role in cancer prevention and treatment.
  • Melatonin and its potential benefits and side effects.
  • Other nutrients and supplements with potential therapeutic benefits.

You can download a copy of Dr. Marik’s book from the FLCCC Alliance website HERE.

FLCCC Alliance have published an open letter to Amazon challenging the banning of Dr. Marik’s book.  We have republished the letter below.

An Open Letter to Amazon on Behalf of Cancer Patients Worldwide

To Jeff Bezos and the Leadership at Amazon,

Representing the voices of cancer patients and their families across the globe, FLCCC Alliance is writing to express our deep disappointment and strong condemnation of Amazon’s recent decision to ban ‘Cancer Care: The Role of Repurposed Drugs and Metabolic Interventions in Treating Cancer’ by Dr. Paul Marik. This book, backed by over 860 peer-reviewed studies, has been a life-saving resource for thousands of patients seeking integrative treatment options, many of whom have been failed by conventional therapies alone.

Cancer is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. The American Cancer Society projects an unprecedented rise in cancer diagnoses this year, especially in younger people. Traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have advanced, but they are not enough. In the wake of the covid pandemic, emerging threats like turbo cancers have pushed oncologists and medical researchers to explore every possible avenue of treatment – including the use of repurposed drugs and metabolic interventions as highlighted in Dr. Marik’s book.

Dr. Marik’s book, which ranked #118 out of over 50,000 Cancer (Books) on Amazon and #35 in Medical Research (Books), has been a resource for nearly 15,000 readers on Amazon and accessed by more than 200,000 people on FLCCC’s website alone. These numbers highlight the urgent need for this information.

The book has provided a clearinghouse of essential information, allowing doctors to think creatively about accessible, affordable therapies that could significantly improve patient outcomes. However, despite the overwhelming support, Amazon unjustly banned this book on 16 September 2024, citing claims of “misleading information” and “defrauding customers.” Amazon has yet to provide Dr. Marik with any examples or explanation. Amazon has gone as far as to cancel Dr. Marik’s publishing account and ban him from publishing any future books on the platform. Again, without citing any specific issues of concern.

It is essential to understand that ‘Cancer Care’ does not replace conventional treatments but complements them. Dr. Marik’s extensive research is designed to support patients and physicians in using scientifically backed, repurposed medications alongside traditional therapies to enhance results and improve quality of life. The decision to censor this book silences a critical conversation on innovative cancer care options and undermines the principles of free speech and medical information access.

This decision is seen by many as an attempt by Big Tech and the pharmaceutical industry to suppress cost-effective, scientifically validated alternatives to expensive conventional treatments like chemotherapy, a $200 billion industry.

While the FLCCC continues to make this book available for free on our website to ensure no one is denied access, the choice to remove it from Amazon – a global marketplace relied upon by millions – limits the reach and impact of this critical information. It is unconscionable to deny cancer patients, who are already fighting for their lives, the knowledge they need to explore every possible treatment option.

As co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at FLCCC, Dr. Marik’s professional expertise is unquestionable – he has authored over 700 peer-reviewed journal articles, 80 book chapters and four critical care books. He is one of the most published critical care physicians globally, with advanced certifications in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Neurocritical Care and Nutrition Science.

We demand that Amazon immediately reverse its decision and reinstate Dr. Marik’s book for sale on your platform. This is not just a matter of restoring access to information; it is a matter of life and death for many patients seeking hope in the form of alternative and integrative treatments.

We urge Amazon to do the right thing and allow cancer patients and their families the freedom to access information that could potentially save their lives.

Sincerely,

FLCCC Alliance, 19 September 2024

[…]

Via https://expose-news.com/2024/09/27/amazon-bans-cancer-treatment-book/

FDA Approves Non-Prescription Nasal Flu Vaccine

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Left image is 8-year-old Mackenzie Coyne from Utah who died after receiving the FluMist vaccine. (Source.)

by Brian Shilhavy
Editor, Health Impact News

With the current shortages of nurses and doctors in the U.S. medical system today, following COVID when so many medical professionals lost their jobs or quit over the deadly COVID-19 “vaccines,” the FDA has just come up with a brilliantly evil way to get the deadly nasal flu vaccine into the nostrils of more children, by authorizing parents and any adult over the age of 18 to be able to give out these vaccines right in the comfort of one’s home, with no medical professional required to be present.

These nasal flu vaccines have a history of being ineffective in preventing the flu, while killing and injuring thousands of people, mostly children, who have taken them.

I actually covered this deadly nasal vaccine back in 2018.

CDC Scandal: Committee that Withdrew Recommendation for Nasal Flu Vaccine Now Recommends it to Experiment on American Public
In June of 2016 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) admitted that the live attenuated nasal influenza vaccine known as “FluMist” was not effective, and was not recommended for the 2016-2017 flu season. It was also not recommended for the current flu season (2017-2018).

The CDC’s own data showed that the nasal vaccine was not effective. The CDC press release in 2016 stated, “This three percent estimate means no protective benefit could be measured.”

Shortly after this announcement in 2016, a family in Utah went public with their story, explaining how their 8-year old daughter died from influenza, even though she had been vaccinated with FluMist. They had trusted the CDC and their flu recommendations, but now they have lost their daughter.

Even though the CDC withdrew their recommendation for the failed nasal flu vaccine, FluMist retained its FDA approval and has been available to purchase the past two years.

On February 21, 2018, the CDC’s ACIP reversed its decision on FluMist, and voted 12-2 to add FluMist to the CDC’s list of recommended vaccines for the 2018-2019 influenza season.

Stat News reports how members of the ACIP expressed concerns about deciding to reverse their decision and recommend it:

“The motion to recommend FluMist passed by a surprising 12-to-2 vote, the outcome of which belies the unease that a number of members of the committee clearly felt about the decision they were making.

They faced, in essence, a Catch-22: It has been impossible to generate the type of data that would normally be used to make a decision like this.

The only way to see if the problem has been solved is to use the vaccine. But without an ACIP recommendation, the vaccine’s use in the U.S. would remain minimal.”

So the fact is that the effectiveness of FluMist is still not known, but the CDC has no qualms about testing it on the American public to find out. (Read the full article.)

At the time of publication of this article, the official U.S. Government database, run by the CDC and FDA, the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), which the Government’s own studies admit contains less than 1% of all vaccine-related deaths and injuries, is reporting 48 deaths and 11,065 injuries following the nasal FluMist vaccines. (Source.)

One death following a FluMist vaccine that was most likely NOT recorded in VAERS, was 8-year-old Mackenzie Coyne from Utah.

Her family was interviewed by Fox13 in Salt Lake City back in 2016 (archived version is here), and while they admitted that their daughter received the FluMist vaccine and then died, they did not blame her death on the vaccine, but on the flu.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? We saw the exact same thing happen during COVID, where COVID-19 “vaccine” related deaths were blamed on COVID, not the “vaccine,” which of course means the vaccine either was ineffective, or actually was the cause of death.

But the facts remain the same: she received a nasal flu vaccine, and then she died.

Flu Vaccines are a SCAM and are Actually Illegal

The annual influenza is both preventable and treatable, without drugs or vaccines.

As I have previously reported, the fake flu statistics published by the CDC all but disappeared during COVID, being replaced by the alleged COVID-19 “virus” inflated statistics. See:
The Disappearance of the Annual Flu Which was Replaced with COVID-19 Shows Corruption at its Highest Level at the CDC
Annual Flu Deaths Scam Unwittingly Exposed and Replaced by the COVID Deaths Scam
BOMBSHELL: Video Emerges Where Fauci and Others Planned for a “Universal mRNA Flu Vaccine” Which Became the “COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine” Because People were not Afraid Enough of the Flu Virus

In the past, prior to the COVID Scam, whenever I published the truth about the criminal flu vaccines, I almost always included a video from Dr. Mark Geier, a pro-vaccine doctor and vaccine developer, who exposes how corrupt and illegal the annual flu shots are.

That video has long since been scrubbed from YouTube, but I was able to retrieve a copy of it and publish it on our Odysee channel. (It will also be on our Bitchute, Telegram, and Rumble channels shortly after the publication of this article.)

Dr. Geier is NOT anti-vaccine. He is an MD and has a PhD in genetics. He spent 10 years working at the National Institute of Health, and was a professor at Johns Hopkins University as a geneticist. He is also the author of over 150 peer-reviewed publications.

He worked on vaccine safety and efficacy for more than 30 years. He was one of four scientists who worked to replace the DTP vaccine, a vaccine that caused every child to become sick with a high fever at the time of vaccination, with the DTaP vaccine, which is an attenuated vaccine and causes illness due to fever in only 3% of those vaccinated.

In the video above, he explains that the flu shot causes Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and that the flu shot is not very effective in preventing the flu.

He also explains that the CDC does not follow the law for vaccines in requiring long-term safety testing for the influenza vaccine like they do with other vaccines, as it is impossible to test a vaccine that changes every year.

So the flu vaccine is basically an experimental vaccine that they want to give out to 300 million people every year. There are also no studies showing the safety of giving the flu vaccine to the same person every single year. However, Dr. Geier points out that the CDC is in the business of distributing flu vaccines, because they represent 300 million doses per year, whereas all the childhood vaccines together only number 20 million.

Dr. Geier goes on to explain that flu is “the wrong thing to vaccinate against” because you have to keep re-vaccinating against it every year, unlike childhood infectious diseases, such as smallpox, that are only vaccinated for once.

Dr. Geier points out how ridiculous it is spend billions of dollars on a vaccine that might, at its best, save about 50 lives a year, when there are far more serious problems causing death that are more worthy of that kind of expenditure.

[…]

Via https://healthimpactnews.com/2024/fda-approves-parents-to-attempt-to-murder-their-children-at-home-with-the-deadly-flumist-vaccine-doctors-no-longer-needed/

The Absence of Science Behind Blood Pressure and Other Common Medications

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blood pressure medications

A Midwestern Doctor

Story at-a-glance

  • High blood pressure (hypertension) is increasingly common, with more people diagnosed each decade
  • This is because the threshold for “high” blood pressure keeps getting lowered — despite no evidence existing that those levels reduce deaths
  • Excessively low blood pressure carries significant risk. Likewise, many of the blood pressure medications have common and significant side effects doctors often don’t recognize
  • In this article we will review the key aspects of each common blood pressure lowering medication and healthier ways to address elevated blood pressures

Frequently, when you dig into medical myths, you discover that many of the dogmas that underlie a popular drug are actually sales slogans a marketing company created. For instance, cholesterol lowering statins are widely prescribed despite the fact lowering cholesterol does not prevent heart disease (in fact cholesterol protects you, so when it’s low, you more likely to die1), statins don’t prevent death, and these drugs harm 20% of users (often severely).

In turn, since so many people have been severely harmed by The Great Statin Scam, more and more public figures, such as comedian Jimmy Dore and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have begun to speak out against this:

Sadly, statins are not the only mass-prescribed drug that’s marketed on deceptive premises and frequently makes the problem it “treats” worse. For example:

• A chemical imbalance from low serotonin was never linked to depression (in fact patients who commit suicide are found to have elevated brain serotonin).

• Acid reflux is due to too little acid in the stomach (as acidity gives the stomach’s opening the signal to close). However, in medical school, we are always taught it is due to too much acidity.

• “Sleeping” pills are actually sedatives that block the restorative phase of the sleep cycle.

Each of these drugs in turn is immensely harmful to their users, but due to how effectively their myths were established (just like “safe and effective”) they continue to be used by large numbers of people and harm them.

In turn, when you look into blood pressure, a similar pattern emerges. As I showed in the first part of this series there are two huge issues with this:

1. We have it backward. High blood pressure is a symptom not a cause of arterial damage.

healthy sick artery

2. There’s no evidence that aggressively lowering blood pressure saves lives:2

hazard ratio

Changing Guidelines

When the blood pressure craze took off, there was a rush to bring the blood pressure lowering drugs to market before their benefit was actually proven (outside of a few short-term studies which showed a small benefit for people with very high blood pressures).

That mindset in turn cemented itself, so as the years have gone by, without evidence to support it (and contrary data being ignored), the blood pressure thresholds keep on getting lowered and more and more people are being put on blood pressure lowering medications. Because of this, roughly 60 million American adults3 (23%) take these drugs.

However, excessively lowering blood pressure cuts blood flow to parts of the body that can’t function without sufficient blood flow. For example, blood pressure medications increase the risk of kidney disease,4,5 and suddenly passing out (from insufficient blood flow to the brain) is one of the most common side effects of blood pressure medications.6

My best guess is that this inexorable march to putting everyone on these drugs is due to some combination of the following:

• Research funding is available for these areas (e.g., from the drug manufacturers) hence being a safe area of research for academics to explore.

• It illustrates the “if you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail” phenomenon and the medical profession’s desire to find more justifications for using its tools (especially since humans tend to double down on their existing approach when it fails rather than consider a new one).

• “Experts” on guideline panels are paid to create recommendations that result in more and more people taking the drugs, a sadly common phenomenon in medicine (e.g., in this article I conclusively showed how that happened with statins).

Let’s now look at how the blood pressure guidelines have changed over the years:

blood pressure guidelines

Note: As these guidelines show, originally the focus was on treating diastolic blood pressure under the belief the heart had to “work harder” if there was too much blood in the circulation. I believe this is helpful to note since it was believed for decades (but now is not) and hence illustrates how arbitrary many medical dogmas are.

To quote the 2017 guidelines:

“Rather than 1 in 3 U.S. adults having high blood pressure (32%) with the previous definition, the new guidelines will result in nearly half of the U.S. adult population (46%) having high blood pressure, or hypertension.”7

[…]

The Effects of Hypertensive Medications

In many cases, the actual mechanism of a drug greatly differs from the purported one (e.g., the tiny benefit statins provide is most likely due to them reducing inflammation9).

In the case of blood pressure medications (which each work in a different manner), very different degrees of benefits are seen from their use despite them creating the same drop in blood pressure. This in turn strongly argues that their benefits are not due to them lowering blood pressure, but rather how each one specifically affects the body. To illustrate:

• A 1997 paper in JAMA reviewed the literature and found significantly different benefits from the antihypertensive drugs depending on which type was used.10

• A 1998 review found that the (known) cardiovascular benefits of ACE inhibitors were not seen with calcium channel blockers, despite the latter having a more significant effect on blood pressure.11

• A 2000 study of 3577 diabetics found that a specific ACE inhibitor, despite minimally reducing blood pressure (a 2.4 reduction in SBP and 1.0 reduction in DBP) had a massive effect (a 25% reduction) on the risk of a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death.12

• A 2007, eight year long (and NIH funded) double-blind study of 42,418 subjects found that when two different types of blood pressure medications were used, there was no difference in their effect on blood pressure but simultaneously, found their rate of preventing heart failure varied by 18% to 80% depending on the drug, leading the investigations to conclude: “blood pressure reduction is an inadequate surrogate marker for health benefits in hypertension.”13

Harms of Hypertensive Medications

The typical management of blood pressure is to use a combination of drugs until they collectively achieve the desired blood pressure and simultaneously to switch out drugs that cause too many side effects for ones the patients can tolerate.

This is a problem, because, as the previous section showed, the drugs have very different effects on the body and should each be considered on the basis of whether their individual effects are appropriate for the individual patient’s situation rather than whatever reaches the desired blood pressure — but as that would get in the way of drug sales, it never happens.

Typically, the most common side effect of blood pressure medications are complications of poor perfusion. For example, blood pressure medications increase the risk of fainting by 28% and are notorious for causing older individuals (who have calcified arteries and hence difficulty getting blood to the brain without insufficient blood pressure) to become lightheaded and then suffer falls that can be devastating.14

To illustrate, a 2014 JAMA study of 4961 adults over 70 with hypertension compared 14.1% who received no antihypertensive medications, 54.6% who were on moderate-intensity medical therapy, and 31.3% on high-intensity medical therapy. They were monitored for three years, during which 9% experienced falls, and 16.9% died.15

[…]

Emergency medicine also recognizes the risks of aggressively treating high blood pressure, as rapid reductions can impair blood flow to the brain, potentially triggering ischemic strokes. Similarly, organs like the brain and kidneys suffer when blood pressure is too low. Hypertension drugs increase the risk of an acute renal injury by 18%,17 and in patients who have end stage renal disease low blood pressure increases mortality by nearly 39%.18

Many other more serious diseases also result from low blood pressure, especially in the organs most sensitive to a loss of blood flow. For example, low blood pressure is strongly linked to cognitive decline19 (since the brain needs adequate blood to function). Likewise, as you lower the blood pressure the kidneys start to struggle as they require sufficient blood flow to function.

For example, when adults 75 and older with blood pressures below 130 were compared to those with ones between 130 to 140, those with lower blood pressure were 11% to 62% more likely to die.20

Additionally, each blood pressure medication works differently. On one hand, this is a good thing because it allows each of them to exert unique therapeutic benefits independent of their effect on blood pressure, but on the other hand, it means they each have unique side effects. Presently, four main types of antihypertensive drugs exist:

1. Diuretics (the oldest) — These drugs lower blood pressure by increasing urination by blocking the reabsorption of sodium in the kidneys. Many different types of diuretics exist with slightly different side effect profiles and different electrolytes they affect, but generally, these drugs:

• Cause a wide range of symptoms from electrolyte imbalances, particularly of sodium and potassium (e.g., low sodium levels are a common cause of weakness and hospital admissions, while low potassium affects 8.2% of users21 — occurring at a rate 973% greater than those not on the drugs).

• Cause many of the gastrointestinal side effects associated with dehydration (due to the drugs effectively dehydrating you).

• They (depending on the class) can sometimes create sulfa sensitivities or allergies.

• They cause many of the general effects associated with low blood pressure (e.g., lightheadedness).

• Some of them (ie. the thiazides) also increase uric acid levels, which may explain22 why these drugs increase the risk of diabetes23 or why they significantly increase one’s risk of gout.24

2. Beta-blockers — These drugs slow the heart and make it pump less forcefully. This is found to be very helpful for heart failure patients, but simultaneously has a variety of common side effects such as constricting the peripheral arteries. Typically, patients have the greatest difficulty tolerating beta blockers and frequently report a worsened quality of life from them (which doctors sadly often don’t recognize). Some of their most common side effects include:

Mood swings Low blood pressure (hypotension) Cold hands or feet
Depression Sexual dysfunction Nausea
Extreme tiredness and fatigue An excessively slow heart rate Trouble sleeping
Dizziness or light-headedness Weight gain Shortness of breath

3. Calcium channel blockers — These reduce the force of contraction of the heart, dilate arteries by relaxing the smooth muscle in them, and somewhat slow the heart rate. The major issues with these drugs are that they cause edema (swelling) throughout the body (affecting between 5.7% to 16.1% of users25 depending on if a low or high dose is taken) and frequently cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or constipation.

These drugs are often quite helpful for resetting an abnormal heart rhythm, but also can cause other symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, abnormal heart rates, and shortness of breath.

4. ACE inhibitors (and related medications) — When the kidney does not have enough blood, it releases a hormone that sets off a cascade within the body to raise blood pressure.26 ACE inhibitors in turn block that cascade and most doctors in practice consider the ACE inhibitors to be the most beneficial to the body (e.g., they are commonly prescribed for diabetes and heart failure).

The most common side effect associated with these drugs is a chronic dry cough (which patients often develop over time as they become sensitized to the drugs — with estimates of its frequency ranging from 3.9% to 35% of users27 — e.g., this detailed review28 determined it was 8.0%). Other common side effects include headaches, lightheadedness, and a loss of taste (although may other side effects have also been linked to these drugs).29

More severe side effects include a 26% increased risk of acute kidney injuries (affecting 1.5% of users),30 a 103% increased risk of hyperkalemia (which can be quite dangerous and affects 4.8% of users),31 and a 19% increase in the risk of lung cancer.32

Via https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/09/27/blood-pressure-medications.aspx

Medieval Towns and Trade Networks in Europe and Africa

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Map of the Hanseatic League including the Islands of Caproney : r ...

Episode 10 Medieval Towns and Trade Networks

The Middle Ages Around the World

Dr Joyce E Salisbury

Film Review

Europe

In the West prior to the year 1000, towns were purely administrative in nature, home to the local bishop or political officials. In the 11th century commercial towns with escaped serfs sprang up everywhere. This  changed in the 11th century with commercial towns springing up all over Europe. In contrast, the East had a long history of urban life.

Under European law, a feudal serf who left his master’s land automatically became a freeman if he remained away a year and a day. Western merchants who founded towns began by seeking a charter to protect freemen from being forced to return to work for their masters. The charter also granted town leaders the right to establish a system of taxation and, in some cases, their own law courts (under common law). They could even free free themselves from royal law in some cases by making regular payments to the local lord. The Count of Champagne (in France) figured out another way lords could profit from nearby town, namely by organizing regional fairs and collecting sales tax from stall holders.

Under the charter, it was taken for granted the rich residents (ie merchants) would appoint officials to run the town. Along with local artisans and merchants, they also organized craft and commercial guilds to set terms and conditions for the services and commodities they provided. Because women, usually widows who inherited their husbands’ businesses, outnumbered men in most towns, they also belonged to guilds.

Children of both sexes served as apprentices in shops and workshops under a guild master. On reaching adulthood they became journeymen and eventually masters and guild members. It was the responsibility of the guilds to set out the town plan, with each guild concentrated in specific neighborhoods according to craft.

Forbidden to own land in the Middle Ages, Jews invested their wealth in money lending and banking. This worked out well for Christian clients forbidden by the Catholic church to charge interest. Henry III and some bishops issued protection charters for wealthy Jewish residents. In the the 13th century, starting with Edward I in 1290, most European monarchs expelled their Jews.

Beginning in 1082, the Italian city-states of Venice, Pisa and Genoa won their freedom from the Byzantine empire and became the primary Mediterranean trading ports – importing silks and spices from Baghdad and ivory and gold from North Africa.

By the end of the 11th century, a northern trade network centered on the Baltic and North Sea, the Hanseatic League, first formed to protect merchant ships from pirates. Extending Britain to Novgorod, the League’s their most lucrative product was salted cod from Scandinavia.* They also exported amber, fur, lumber, wool and whale oil.

Africa

10 Things You Didn't Know About The Ancient Mali Empire | AFKTravel

Urban life also flourished in 12th century West Africa. Beginning in the 9th-10th century, Berbers had spread Islam and Muslim trade networks south into the Sahara, giving rise to multiple medieval towns. Founded in 1235,

In the 13th and 14th century, agriculture flourished in the Mali, whose capitol Timbuktu straddled the Sahel and Savanna regions of Africa. This allowed them to produce grains, cola nuts and giant snails (in the Savanna) and sheep and goats in the (Sahel). Timbuktu also became a major center for the global salt and gold trade (which was mined and smelted in Mali), as well as a major center for Islamic scholarship.

The Mali emperor Mansa Musa (1312-1337) became world famous when he took a massive retinue of courtiers, servant, poets, scholars and elephants east to Mecca (performing the Hajj) in 1334. the Mali empire survived through the end of Middle Ages, when climatic warming caused population and agriculture to shift from the Sahel to the grassy savanna south of the Sahara.

Bantu speakers of Swahili also established major trade routes south of Aksum (see Urban Life After the Fall of Rome) between 1200-1500. Establishing major trade routes across the India Ocean, they became expert boat builders and fishermen, importing Chinese porcelain, Indian pepper, and Southeast Asian Mangoes. They also established plantations of bananas, originally native to Southeast Asia.

*Codfish has no fat, which means unlike oily warm water fish it can absorb enough salt to prevent it from spoiling.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/13172786/13172807

Assange to Testify at Council of Europe

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Assange discussing the plea deal with his lawyer Gareth Pierce in June. (WikiLeaks via X)

By Joe Lauria
Special to Consortium News

WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who was released from prison in June, will address the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France on Oct. 1 after he was granted  Status as a Political Prisoner by a rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), WikiLeaks said today.

It will be the first time Assange will speak in public since his hearing in U.S. federal court on the North Mariana islands in June, at which he was granted his release after a plea deal.

Assange will give evidence before the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which will meet from 8.30am to 10am at the Palace of Europe, WikiLeaks said.

It follows the PACE inquiry report into Assange’s case, written by Rapporteur Thórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir.

“The report focuses on the implications of his detention and its broader effects on human rights, in particular freedom of journalism,” WikiLeaks said in a press release published on X. “The report confirms that Assange qualifies as a political prisoner and calls on the UK [to] conduct an independent review into whether he was exposed to inhuman or degrading treatment.”

Ævarsdóttir called Assange’s case a “high profile example of transnational repression.” Her report “discusses how governments employ both legal and extralegal measures to suppress dissent across borders, which poses significant threats to press freedom and human rights,” said WikiLeaks.

Still Recovering

Assange is “still in recovery following his release from prison,” it said. He will travel to France because of “the exceptional nature of the invitation and to embrace the support received from PACE and its delegates over the past years”

While he was in prison PACE advocated “repeatedly” for his release, WikiLeaks said.

The hearing at which he will speak will also consider the findings that Assange’s imprisonment was “politically motivated,” it said.

The PACE committee said earlier this month in a statement that:

“… the failure of the competent US authorities to prosecute the alleged perpetrators of war crimes and human rights violations committed by US state agents, combined with the harsh treatment of Mr Assange and Ms [Chelsea] Manning, ‘creates a perception that the United States government’s purpose in prosecuting Mr Assange was to hide the wrongdoing of state agents rather than to protect national security.’ …

Assange’s harsh treatment, particularly his unprecedented conviction under the Espionage Act, also ‘creates a dangerous chilling effect and a climate of self-censorship affecting all journalists, publishers and others’, according to the committee, severely undermining the protection of journalists and whistleblowers around the world.

It urged the US, a Council of Europe observer state, to “urgently reform” the 1917 Espionage Act to exclude its application to publishers, journalists and whistleblowers who disclose classified information with the intent to raise public awareness about serious crimes.”

[…]

Via https://consortiumnews.com/2024/09/24/assange-to-testify-at-council-of-europe/

Re: Water Fluoridation – Letter to NZ District Councils

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Water fluoridation fires up opponents in New Plymouth | RNZ News

Dear Mayor and Councillors,

As many of you are probably aware, a US Federal Court issued a ruling yesterday that “fluoridation poses an unreasonable risk to human health”. (See Ruling here).

The US Environmental Protection Agency is now obligated by law to restrict or eliminate the risk. It appears that the only thing that can be done to meet this obligation is to stop fluoridation.

While this ruling is not from a New Zealand court the fact remains that a senior court of law has reviewed all the available current best evidence on neurotoxicity and concluded that fluoridation at 0.7ppm poses an unreasonable risk to human health.

This leaves New Zealand councils in the position of knowingly adding a neurotoxin to the drinking water at an amount that the top scientific toxicology agency in the United States and a US Federal court have found to be unsafe.

Note: there is more science, and of a higher quality, showing fluoridation causes the same harm that was caused by lead in paint and petrol than there was about that when it was banned in 1996.

Every fluoridating council is now in the position of being legally required to add neurotoxic fluoridation chemicals to the water supply, while at the same time being legally bound by section 23 of the Health Act to protect the public health within its district.

S 23 General powers and duties of local authorities in respect of public health. Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the duty of every local authority to improve, promote, and protect public health within its district, and for that purpose every local authority is hereby empowered and directed—

For councils that are already fluoridating their water supply section 23(c) also applies:

S 23(c) if satisfied that any nuisance, or any condition likely to be injurious to health or offensive, exists in the district, to cause all proper steps to be taken to secure the abatement of the nuisance or the removal of the condition.

The only reasonable conclusion now is that that fluoridation is injurious to health. Therefore, the council is legally required to take steps to protect the public health by declining to implement the Directors-General’s directive, or suspending fluoridation if they have already begun. We do not believe any court in the land would impose the extreme fines, as threatened by the Director-General of Health, in this situation, that is, because a council is fulfilling its statutory duty. Section 23 overrides Part5 of the Act.

Regards

Mary Byrne National Coordinator

Mark Atkin Science and Legal Advisor

Fluoride Free New Zealand

UK union boss warns of ‘huge social and economic scars’ under net zero

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By Paul Homewood

Britain’s switch to green energy will spark a jobs catastrophe if it is built on imports from China, one of Labour’s biggest union backers has warned.

Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union, said the UK’s progress in cutting carbon emissions so far was largely based on the “decimation” of manufacturing industries such as steelmaking, creating “huge social and economic scars”.

He accused successive governments of failing to deliver tens of thousands of jobs that were promised from the expansion of wind and solar. He argued that goods needed to support new green industries should not be purchased cheaply from China.

In a stark wake-up call for Labour, Mr Smith also warned that Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, risked making the situation worse with a crackdown on North Sea oil and his plans to decarbonise UK power by 2030.

His comments come just weeks after massive job losses were confirmed at the Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales, where owner Tata Steel is transitioning from ageing blast furnaces to cleaner electric arc furnaces.

Mr Smith, who has led the GMB since 2021, said: “Climate change is a huge problem, we accept that. But the UK has essentially reduced its carbon emissions by putting people out of manufacturing jobs and moving the work to countries like China.

“Our renewables infrastructure is being built in state-owned or oil and gas wealth fund-backed yards in China and the Middle East, and China obviously burns a huge amount of coal to produce the steel required for that.

“It is not morally defensible. And so for British politicians to go around the world talking about climate change and the threat it poses, well – we’ve simply embarked on a policy of exporting jobs and importing virtue.

“So I doubt many people in other advanced economies think that approach to decarbonisation has been a sensible one. It has hollowed out our communities, it’s decimated our industrial base and it’s left huge social and economic scars across the UK.”

China as a ‘huge, non-market actor’

Labour ministers are grappling with concerns that the rush towards green energy risks unintentionally damaging British industry.

Since 1990, manufacturing’s share of the economy – which is dominated by services – has decreased from 17pc to 9pc, according to research by the House of Commons library.

And there are fears that the decline could continue. Many companies already complain that UK electricity prices are much higher than in Europe and the US, and they face being clobbered by higher carbon taxes and green levies on power.

This is a particular problem for businesses that rely on gas for most of their energy, as they will soon have to shift to electricity which is far more expensive. In 2019, the cost of industrial electricity was roughly six times that of gas, according to government data, with almost half of the total made up of network charges and taxes.

Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, has repeatedly insisted that “decarbonisation must never mean de-industrialisation”.

But in an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Smith said Labour’s own policies risked accelerating industrial decline.

“This Labour Government has inherited an absolute hospital pass from the Tories, [when] a lot of difficult decisions were kicked down the line,” he said.

“But the problem is Labour’s policy positions are in danger of compounding what is already a very problematic position – they’re going to make things worse if they’re not careful.”

He added: “We’ve got this world view that’s all about clean electricity and the charge towards that. But the truth is, it’s not going to happen in the way that people think it is.

“In areas like wind power, we have been promised tens of thousands of jobs repeatedly by successive governments. Now we hear the same from the Labour Government.

“But these jobs have never materialised because it’s simply a lot cheaper for people to produce the infrastructure in places like China.”

Chinese wind turbine manufacturers still account for a relatively small slice of the European market, which remains dominated by giants such as Denmark’s Vestas and Germany’s Enercon, Nordex and Siemens Gamesa – the latter of which has a factory in Hull.

But amid booming production at home – supported by state aid from Beijing – Chinese companies are seeking to win more projects abroad with ultra-cheap prices. Zhongshan-based Mingyang Smart Energy Group is among the suppliers chosen for a host of wind projects in the North Sea, recently pledging to open a factory in Scotland.

Meanwhile, wind farm developers have privately argued that to hit the Government’s 2030 clean power target, ministers may have to relax – rather than strengthen – rules designed to ensure that turbines are made with “local content” from the UK.

Mr Smith said the GMB did not support tackling Chinese exports through “protectionist” measures such as trade tariffs, such as those applied by Joe Biden, the US president.

But he called for the Government to introduce a carbon border tax which would penalise imports of steel or other products shipped from China that had been produced using carbon-intensive processes.

Mr Smith warned: “Protectionism is not in the interest of workers or our economy. We’re a trading nation. But this is not fair trade and we need to stop pretending it is.

“There is just a fundamental challenge with not having a level playing field and competing against a huge, non-market actor like China.

“There needs to be a debate over a carbon border tax and as a new world order starts to take shape, there has to be a debate about the national security implications of having no industrial base.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/09/25/milibands-net-zero-plans-risk-jobs-catastrophe-warns-gmb/

Are WiFi and other EMFs Linked to Skyrocketing Autism Rates?

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Dr Mercola

Story at-a-glance

  • Autism rates have increased significantly since 2000 — 1 in 36 children are now diagnosed with this condition. EMF exposure may play a role by activating voltage-gated calcium channels, leading to excessive intracellular calcium
  • Excessive intracellular calcium interferes with six neuronal mechanisms, affecting synaptogenesis, including neuronal migration, dendritic outgrowth, synapse formation, maturation, and pruning
  • Pregnant women are advised to minimize EMF exposure to protect their unborn children. Recommendations include avoiding cell phones, Wi-Fi fields and using shielding materials
  • Toxic chemical exposure, including mercury, lead, phthalates and pesticides, can also contribute to autism development by interfering with NMDA receptor activity and increasing intracellular calcium
  • Strategies to reduce EMF exposure include identifying major sources, limiting wireless device use, hardwiring internet connections and avoiding “smart” appliances. Consuming magnesium and Nrf2-boosting foods may help mitigate EMF damage

The rates of autism spectrum disorder, commonly shortened to ASD or autism, continue to rise among America’s youth. According to Autism Parenting Magazine, about 1 in 36 children are now diagnosed with this condition. To paint a different picture, the frequency of autism is now 241% higher than statistics recorded in 2000.1

Back in 2017, I interviewed Martin Pall, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Washington State University, regarding how electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can affect human health via the stimulation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Through the years, he has continued to build on this research, and has recently published an extensive study that digs deeper into the role of EMFs in our VGCCs, and how it can give rise to autism.

How EMF Exposure Contributes to Autism

In Pall’s study,2 published in Brain Sciences, he elucidates “a causal/explanatory model which explains the neurodevelopmental, physiological, biochemical, environmental and genetic causal mechanisms of ASDs.”

According to Pall,3 autism may occur via synaptogenesis dysfunction in the developing brains of children. The central mechanism around this phenomenon is the activation of VGCCs exacerbated by EMF exposure. This raises [Ca2+]i, also known as intracellular calcium, causing autism.

For those unfamiliar, synaptogenesis is another term for synapse formation.4 Synapses are sites wherein neurons communicate with each other, similar to a telephone cable connecting two phones together. As your child interacts with the environment, their brain forms new connections (synaptogenesis). “Essentially, your child’s brain is adapting to their unique environment, and learning to process it more efficiently,” according to Yale Baby School.5

The autism-inducing EMFs referred throughout Pall’s research refer to the manmade variety, meaning they are generated via electric currents. He refers to these as “coherent” EMFs, which are “emitted in a particular vector direction, with a particular frequency, polarity and phase.”6

On the other hand, he refers to natural EMFs as “incoherent,” as they are made up of photons emitted in various directions, polarities and phases. Due to this incoherence, they only create a miniscule amount of magnetic force that likely won’t pose a threat to your health.7

Six Nerve Mechanisms Affected by Excessive Intracellular Calcium

Pall outlines that during the perinatal period (before and after birth), there are six neuronal mechanisms impacting synaptogenesis, and the likely cause is — you guessed it — excessive intracellular calcium. In his words, the flooding of calcium “causes abnormal regulation of each of the six mechanisms,” which are outlined below:

Neuronal migration — A process that occurs during embryonic development, migration events are essential to establish cortex laminae.8
Dendritic outgrowth — Short, narrow and highly branched cells that function as the receiving or input portions of a neuron.9
Synapse formation — Occurs after birth and plays a role in the creation of neuronal networks.10
Synapse maturation — The process that shapes a synapse so that it can achieve a fully functioning state.11
Synaptic pruning — By six years old, your child’s brain will have the ability to eliminate less important neuronal connections for high-quality ones.12
MeCP2 function — This refers to the gene that helps maintain the synapses.13

When the functions of these six mechanisms are impaired, synaptogenesis dysfunction occurs, which may result in autism. According to Pall:14

“Synaptogenesis dysfunction produces tissue connectivity changes in the autism/ASD brain which are thought, in turn, to produce many autism symptoms. It may act, in part, to disrupt and change neural network formation, a possible central causal mechanism of autism/ASDs.”

Pall says that the six mechanisms “have been shown to be abnormal in autism/ASD patients.”15 How, specifically? Again, evidence points back to excessive intracellular calcium via the VGCCs. His paper cites two previous studies, published in 2007 and 2009, showing that intracellular calcium has a strong link to autism.

For context, VGCCs, which are found in high concentrations in the brain, play a role in intracellular processes, such as neurotransmitter release.16 Once they’re exposed to EMFs, calcium floods inward, which, based on Pall’s collated research, may cause synaptic dysfunction ultimately resulting in autism.17

In another study, similar findings were observed. According to the researchers, coherent EMFs “can cause irregular gating of electro-sensitive ion channels or VGICs on the cell membranes,”18 which can lead to DNA damage resulting in infertility and cancer.19 Like Pall, these researchers also noted that incoherent EMFs, regardless of intensity, will not cause health issues.20

Babies Are Already at Risk for Autism Even Before Birth

Based on the six affected mechanisms described by Pall, it seems that autism may begin even before a child is born. In his review, he came across a study that compared EMF exposure levels of women who gave birth to babies diagnosed with autism compared to normal controls. From here, he noted that babies born with autism were at risk because of where the mother slept during her pregnancy, as well as where the baby slept in the months after birth.21

If you’re pregnant, it would be wise to minimize your exposure to EMFs, as it’s paramount to protecting your unborn child’s health. Pall emphasizes the following recommendations:22

“Pregnant women should not use cell phones, cordless phones, should avoid Wi-Fi fields and should use wired connections to the internet, avoid Bluetooth, should not spend time near smart meters, cell phone towers, avoid high voltage powerlines, etc.

Pregnant women should avoid being in buildings with high dirty electricity in their electric powerlines. Such avoidance is very challenging. A second choice is to use shielding to protect the fetus and the young baby after birth.

You can get large, shielded T-shirts to protect the fetus, wearing a regular cloth T-shirt underneath to minimize body contact. Such shielding materials have large numbers of metal (often silver) fibers. I believe that shielding mostly acts by disrupting the coherence of the EMFs, therefore greatly lowering any electric or magnetic forces.”

Another option is to apply shielding paint to the walls of your home. They usually come in black and can be painted over once dry so you can maintain your home’s original design. More importantly, shielding paint protects your home from EMF sources from your neighbors, which is something you may have little control over. Pall also advises buying an EMF meter to identify the hotspots in your home.

[…]

Via https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/09/26/emf-exposure-autism.aspx

The Role of Vitamin B6 Deficiency in Diabetes

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diabetes vitamin b6 deficiency

Dr Mercola

Story at-a-glance

  • Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in blood sugar regulation through “first responder” beta cells in the pancreas. Some cases of diabetes may be linked to vitamin B6 deficiency or dysfunction
  • Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may improve glucose metabolism and reduce diabetes risk
  • B vitamins, especially B6, B12 and folate, are important for both blood sugar control and mental health. They can help manage diabetes symptoms and reduce anxiety and depression
  • Minerals like zinc, magnesium and chromium are essential for glycemic regulation and mental well-being. Deficiencies in these minerals are linked to diabetes progression and mood disorders
  • Mitochondrial health is crucial for preventing chronic diseases like diabetes. Reducing exposure to toxins like seed oils, endocrine disruptors and EMFs can improve cellular energy production and overall health

Your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar relies on a complex dance between different cells in your pancreas. Research has uncovered a fascinating new player in this intricate process — “first responder” beta cells.1 These special cells are the quickest to react when glucose levels rise, triggering a cascade of activity throughout your pancreas.

Scientists have found that these first responders have a unique molecular signature, setting them apart from other beta cells.2 Intriguingly, they express higher levels of an enzyme called pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate oxidase (PNPO), which is crucial for producing vitamin B6.3

You may have heard of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) which differs from pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate oxidase (PNPO). They both are vital for vitamin B6 metabolism, serving different and distinct roles. PNPO is an enzyme that converts other B6 forms into PLP, the active vitamin B6. PLP acts as a coenzyme in many metabolic processes like amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis.

PNPO deficiency can lead to vitamin B6-dependent epilepsy, while PLP deficiency causes various neurological and metabolic issues. PLP is commonly used as a supplement due to its direct involvement in metabolism, whereas PNPO is not supplemented. PLP is light-sensitive and needs careful storage, unlike the stable PNPO enzyme.

This discovery suggests that vitamin B6 may play a more significant role in insulin secretion and blood sugar control than previously thought. By understanding the importance of these first responder cells and their reliance on vitamin B6, researchers are opening up new avenues for diabetes prevention and treatment.

Vitamin B6: The Unsung Hero of Blood Sugar Regulation

The study’s findings highlight the critical importance of vitamin B6 in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. When researchers interfered with vitamin B6 production or function, they observed a dramatic impairment in the pancreas’s ability to respond to rising glucose levels.4

This effect was seen not only in zebrafish but also in mouse pancreatic tissue, suggesting that the mechanism is likely conserved across species, including humans. The implications of this discovery are profound. It raises the possibility that some cases of diabetes or prediabetes might be rooted in a deficiency or dysfunction related to vitamin B6 metabolism.

This new perspective could lead to more targeted and effective treatments for certain individuals struggling with blood sugar control. Rather than focusing solely on insulin or glucose metabolism, addressing vitamin B6 status could restore normal pancreatic function in some patients.

A New Understanding of Pancreatic Coordination

Your pancreas doesn’t just release insulin in a simple, uniform manner. Instead, it relies on a sophisticated hierarchy of cell communication. The research reveals that first responder cells act as leaders, coordinating the activity of surrounding beta cells. This organization allows for a rapid, synchronized response to rising blood sugar levels.

The study used cutting-edge techniques, including optogenetics, to manipulate individual cells within the pancreas of living zebrafish. By activating or silencing specific cells, the scientists could observe how the entire system responded. Remarkably, they found that interfering with just a single first responder cell could disrupt the entire pancreatic response to glucose.5

This demonstrates how crucial these vitamin B6-rich cells are to the overall function of your pancreas. Understanding this cellular hierarchy provides new insights into how diabetes might develop and offers potential targets for future treatments. While more research is needed, these findings suggest that ensuring adequate vitamin B6 status could be an important strategy for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

For some individuals, addressing a vitamin B6 deficiency might even be enough to restore normal pancreatic function and glucose regulation. Vitamin B6 is found abundantly in animal foods such as organic, pastured beef as well as dark leafy greens, papaya, oranges, cantaloupe and bananas.6 Nutritional yeast is another source.

Vitamin D Deficiency: A Hidden Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes

Research has also shed light on a fascinating connection between vitamin D levels and Type 2 diabetes.7 A study conducted in India examined the relationship between vitamin D and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a key marker of long-term blood sugar control. The findings reveal that individuals with Type 2 diabetes tend to have significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to those without the condition.8

Further, there’s an inverse relationship between vitamin D and HbA1c levels — as vitamin D increases, HbA1c decreases. This suggests that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may play a crucial role in managing blood sugar and reducing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Sunlight exposure is a primary source of vitamin D, but many people struggle to maintain sufficient levels, even in tropical regions.

Factors such as indoor lifestyles, darker skin pigmentation and limited dietary sources contribute to widespread vitamin D deficiency, making it a global health concern. Vitamin D’s importance extends far beyond bone health.

This essential hormone influences many of your bodily functions, including cellular processes, neuromuscular activity and immune function. Deficiency in vitamin D has been linked to a host of health issues, ranging from rickets in children to osteoporosis, cancer9 and autism10 in adults.

While the exact mechanisms linking vitamin D to glucose metabolism are still being explored, emerging evidence suggests several potential pathways. Vitamin D may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, both of which are crucial for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.11

Vitamin D and Diabetes: Unraveling the Connection

By maintaining optimal vitamin D levels, you may be able to improve your glucose metabolism and reduce your risk of developing this chronic condition. Research has also shown that vitamin D deficiency negatively impacts insulin sensitivity and can directly influence insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells.12 Supplementation with vitamin D has been found to significantly improve fasting blood glucose, insulin levels and insulin resistance in diabetic patients.13

Moreover, vitamin D’s role in modulating inflammation and oxidative stress makes it a key player in both diabetes and mental health in diabetics. In diabetes, vitamin D helps reduce systemic inflammation by hindering nuclear transcription and decreasing cytokine production. This anti-inflammatory effect is crucial, as inflammation is a significant factor in insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction.14

People with diabetes are at an increased risk of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as cognitive decline.15 Vitamin D’s ability to downregulate oxidative stress-related events and influence antioxidant defense mechanisms is beneficial in this respect.

Studies have revealed a shared nutraceutical-gene network module between insulin resistance and depression, suggesting that addressing vitamin D deficiency could potentially prevent both conditions.16 Regular monitoring of vitamin D levels and appropriate sun exposure and supplementation, if necessary, may be beneficial for individuals at risk of or already dealing with diabetes and mental health issues.

The global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (defined as a level of less than 20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (defined as a level of 20 to less than 30 ng/mL) is 40% to 100%,17 so many people are lacking. Globally, 76.6% of adults have vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/l).18

Further, 20 ng/mL has repeatedly been shown to be grossly insufficient for good health and disease prevention, which means the true prevalence of people without optimal levels of vitamin D is even greater. The only way to determine how much sun exposure is enough and/or how much vitamin D3 you need to take is to measure your vitamin D level, ideally twice a year.

Once you’ve confirmed your vitamin D levels by blood testing, it is important to adjust your sun exposure and/or vitamin D3 supplementation accordingly. Then, remember to retest in three to four months to make sure you’ve reached your target level.

The optimal level for health and disease prevention is between 60 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL (150 nmol/L to 200 nmol/L), while the cutoff for sufficiency appears to be around 40 ng/mL. In Europe, the measurements you’re looking for are 150 nmol/L to 200 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L respectively.

The Power of B Vitamins: More Than Just Blood Sugar Control

While vitamin B6 takes center stage in diabetes management, the entire B vitamin complex plays an important role in both blood sugar regulation and mental health. Recent studies have shown that B vitamins, particularly B6, B12 and folate, are essential for optimal brain function and the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and GABA.19

A deficiency in these micronutrients has been linked to neurological disorders, including anxiety and depression,20 while high doses of vitamin B6 supplements have been found to significantly reduce anxiety, stress and depression symptoms. One study reported that adults supplementing with 25 milligrams (mg) of vitamin B6 twice daily for six months experienced improved mental well-being.21

Additionally, vitamin B6 has been found to effectively lower blood glucose levels in gestational diabetes and reduce postprandial blood glucose levels after consuming carbohydrates by inhibiting small-intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme activity.22 Furthermore, B vitamin complex supplementation has demonstrated the ability to enhance glycemic control and renal function in diabetic patients by reducing homocysteine levels.23

The Balancing Act of Minerals: Zinc, Magnesium and Chromium

Minerals play a vital role in maintaining both blood sugar balance and mental health. Zinc, for instance, is crucial for glycemic regulation and immune function. Studies have shown that zinc supplementation can improve fasting glucose concentrations and protect against oxidative damage in diabetes.24 Additionally, zinc deficiency has been linked to depression and anxiety, as zinc-containing neurons are found in brain regions affecting mood and cognitive ability.25

Magnesium, another essential mineral, is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including those related to glucose metabolism. Hypomagnesemia, or low levels of magnesium, is strongly associated with Type 2 diabetes and can lead to more rapid disease progression. Magnesium supplementation, meanwhile, has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients and improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.26

Chromium, while less studied, has also shown promise in both diabetes management and mental health. Low chromium levels are associated with an increased risk of diabetes and elevated inflammation.27

Supplementation with chromium has been found to improve glycemic control and reduce carbohydrate cravings and mood swings in individuals with depressive symptoms.28 By ensuring adequate intake of these trace minerals through diet or targeted supplementation, you may be able to support both your blood sugar control and mental well-being.

Mitochondrial Health Is an Overlooked Key to Preventing Chronic Diseases Like Diabetes

The rise in chronic diseases, including diabetes, may be linked to more than just nutrient deficiencies like vitamin B6 and vitamin D. Three major mitochondrial toxins — linoleic acid in seed oils, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics and other consumer products, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) — play a significant role in compromising cellular energy production.

These toxins create an environment in the gut that favors endotoxin-producing bacteria, potentially contributing to a wide range of diseases including heart disease, cancer and obesity. The key to addressing these issues lies in restoring healthy energy production at the cellular level, which in turn helps maintain proper gut flora balance.

[…]

Via https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/09/25/diabetes-vitamin-b6-deficiency.aspx

Why Does US Still Control Every Penny of Iraqi Oil Revenues?

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Hussein Askary

Washington has maintained control over Iraq’s oil revenues since its illegal 2003 invasion – a financial and economic subjugation that undermines Iraqi sovereignty and denies it access to its own national treasure.

In July, the Iraqi Central Bank halted all foreign transactions in Chinese Yuan, succumbing to intense  pressure  from the US Federal Reserve to do so. The shutdown followed a brief period during which Baghdad had allowed merchants to trade in Yuan, an initiative intended to mitigate excessive US restrictions on Iraq’s access to US dollars.

While this Yuan-based trade excluded Iraq’s oil exports, which remained in US dollars, Washington viewed it as a threat to its financial dominance over the Persian Gulf state. But how has the US managed to exert such total control over Iraqi financial policies?

The answer lies in 2003, with mechanisms established following the illegal US-led invasion of Iraq.

A legacy of ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’

Since the signing of Executive Order 13303 (EO13303) by President George W Bush on 22 May 2003, all revenues from Iraq’s oil sales have been funneled directly into an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

EO13303, titled “Protection of the Development Fund for Iraq and Other Property in Which Iraq Has an Interest,” has been renewed annually by every US president, including Joe Biden in 2024. This executive order essentially places control over Iraq’s oil revenues under the discretion of the US President, leaving Baghdad with limited control over its resources and earnings.

The roots of Iraq’s financial dependence on the US stretch back to the 1990s. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, UN Security Council Resolution 661 imposed severe economic sanctions to isolate Iraq from international trade. These sanctions, exacerbated by former president Saddam Hussein’s refusal to comply with withdrawal demands, crippled the Iraqi economy.

Control over Iraq’s finances

UNSC Resolution 687, passed in 1991 after the Persian Gulf War, extended these sanctions while introducing the controversial “Oil for Food” program. Although it allowed Iraq to sell oil in exchange for humanitarian goods like food and medicine, the sanctions resulted in immense human suffering, with over one million Iraqis, half of them children, dying during this period. Then-US secretary of state Madeleine Albright infamously defended the sanctions in a 1996 interview, stating that the deaths were “worth the price.”

Following the invasion of Iraq, the US occupation of the country became a reality after the collapse of Saddam’s government. Faced with a fait accompli, the UN Security Council had to accept the new status quo.

According to International Humanitarian Law, occupation forces – in this case, the US and UK – become responsible for the well-being of the populations they occupy. So, UNSC Resolution 1483 was issued on 22 May 2003 to establish the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) as Iraq’s administrator and create the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) to manage Iraqi oil revenues.

Note that Resolution 1483 did not mention the US Federal Reserve as the depositary of Iraqi funds, nor did it assign a location for the DFI headquarters or account. In fact, the resolution specifically states directed that the DFI should “be held by the Central Bank of Iraq.” It was the CPA, led by Paul Bremer, that decided unilaterally to house the account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

This decision allowed the US government to maintain tight control over Iraq’s oil revenues. From that point until today, the Iraqi Ministry of Finance has had to submit requests for funds to the US Treasury, which then approves or denies these requests based on its own criteria.

This monthly transfer of US dollars – which are literally flown into Baghdad in pallets of hard cash – determines Iraq and its 40-million-population’s ability to pay for basic needs like salaries, food, and medicine.

Blackmailing Iraq

Whenever Washington feels that Iraq is not compliant with US regional goals, these fund transfers can be delayed or reduced. In January 2020, for instance, after the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel US troops following the assassination of Iranian Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Deputy Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Trump administration threatened to freeze Iraq’s access to its oil revenues.

Today, Iraq’s financial situation remains dire. Despite having oil revenues piling up in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York – estimated today at around $120 billion – Iraq is burdened with a growing debt that matches this amount.

The country’s inability to control its own funds has prevented long-term reconstruction and development, forcing it to rely on international loans. Ironically, Iraq has also become one of the largest holders of US Treasury bills, with investments totaling $41 billion in 2023.

In addition to its economic challenges, Iraq has been drawn into the escalating regional conflict amid the ongoing Gaza war and the intensification of Israel’s aggression against Lebanon. Iraqi resistance forces have actively participated in military strikes against Israeli targets in solidarity with both Palestinian factions and Hezbollah.

The involvement of Iraq in this conflict is not isolated. Iraqi factions have routinely targeted US military bases in Iraq and Syria – viewed as illegal foreign forces subjugating Iraq’s sovereignty – contributing to a broader escalation that has drawn in actors from across West Asia.

These troops have vowed to continue their campaign against both US and Israeli targets, aligning their actions with the region’s Axis of Resistance.

The UN shutters DFI, but the US refuses to comply

Iraq ceased to be under occupation, at least formally, when it signed the “Strategic Cooperation Framework” agreement with the US in 2008, which says that American forces are present in Iraq only at the request of the Iraqi government.

Attempts by the UN to restore Iraq’s control over its finances have largely failed. In 2010, UNSC Resolution 1956 demanded the closure of the DFI by no later than 30 June 2011 and the transfer of all proceeds to the Iraqi government.

Despite these clear legal directives, the DFI account remains under US control at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in defiance of the UN Security Council resolution. Worse yet, enduring US dominance over Iraq’s financial resources has deeply exacerbated the corruption and dysfunction plaguing the country.

Ending the work of the UN International Advisory and Monitoring Board of the DFI was one way of obscuring the massive corruption and theft of resources by American and Iraqi actors.

The unprecedented corruption that was spread throughout Iraq and its institutions can be laid at the doorstep of this policy. The gargantuan amounts of hard cash that are flown into the country monthly, the unaccounted-for astronomical sums that disappear from various ministries, and the dollar exchange shops (banks) set up by political groups that thrived alongside the US occupation forces have turned Iraq into one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Iraq’s dependence on the US for access to its own oil revenues, combined with its growing debt has significant impacts on its sovereignty, while its involvement in the regional war also will have implications on its relations with the US.

While Iraq may no longer be under formal occupation, the mechanisms of financial control established after the 2003 invasion persist. These controls not only limit Iraq’s economic development but also entangle it in broader geopolitical struggles.

Today, both the US Administration of Joe Biden and the Iraqi government led by Mohammad Shia al-Sudani – which has not taken steps to free Iraq’s sovereign funds – can be considered in violation of United Nations Resolution 1956 issued in 2010.

[…]

Via https://libya360.wordpress.com/2024/09/25/why-does-the-us-still-control-every-penny-of-iraqi-oil-revenues/