Bwiti initiation in Gabon

Many have described Gabon as the "Tibet of Africa". Bordering the Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea - Gabon is the home of "Bwiti" - a rich African spiritual tradition.

Bwiti practitioners use the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga plant to promote radical spiritual growth, to stabilize community and family structure, and to resolve pathological problems. The root bark has been consumed for thousands of years in a Bwiti rite of passage ceremony, as well as in initiation rites and acts of healing. More recently in the Western world, Iboga and specifically one of its alkaloids Ibogaine, has gained prominence as a treatment for opiate addiction.

Unfortunately, Iboga along with most other psychedelic plant medicines is banned in many Western countries. It's legal status one more proof point that true religious freedom does not exist in Western Society which is gripped by a vicious 'War on Consciousness'.

Bwiti ceremonies are led by a spiritual leader called N'ganga who is a very important member of the community and has extensive knowledge of traditional healing practices, hexes, and spells. The crucial rite of Bwiti is the initiation ceremony, when young Gabonese men take Iboga for the first time in the men's hut to become members of the spiritual practice. There are many ceremonies at different times of the year to give homage to the ancestors. Special ceremonies may be held to heal sick persons or drive out malevolent spirits.

During many ceremonies, a traditional torch made of bark and tree sap is burned. Musicians playing drums and a traditional Ngombi harp are central to the rites. The N'ganga and other participants usually dress in red, black, and white cloth. They may wear skirts of raffia material and small shells or beads. Animal skins, such as Genet fur, are often worn. The Iboga root may be made into a tea or more often taken in the form of scrapings. Ceremonies usually begin at night and may last for days as the doses of the plant medicine used in these ceremonies is particularly long lasting.

This year has seen a true spiritual awakening for myself guided by a recourse to nature and the discovery of the ancient sacred traditions of the ancestors. As part of this blessed journey both myself and my wife have made a commitment to visit Gabon in 2015 and undergo our initiation into the Bwiti tradition. We are planning to fly out just after xmas and be in Gabon through new year and into early Jan. A monumental way to begin what promises to be a year of significant personal transformation for us both in 2015.

Our preparations for the visit are extensive as we both seek to ready ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually for the ceremony in Gabon. A key part of our preparations is a renewed focus on our meditation practice. Every morning at 5am we arise and sit in meditation together for an hour. We have also taken to adding an additional meditation session in the evening and once a week we go for a flotation (sensory deprivation) session. Our physical preparations include a weekly gym regime of 3-4 sessions and 3 sessions of Hot Yoga. Diet is also a key concern. We have now removed all alcohol and are following a Paleo approach to eating. We also carry out a 24 hour cleansing fast every Sunday and are planning a further detox using the ancient medicine from the Kambo frog. Finally, we have increased our sleep aiming to hit the sack between 9.30 and 10.00 every evening.

In addition to the preparations above I am also personally carrying out a significant amount of work guided by the sacred medicine of the mushroom. This is assisting me to work through many issues associated with self imposed limits that I habitually apply to my creative energy. Recognizing and then changing these patterns of thinking has been a key focus of my work with the mushroom. I have also started to work with vision boards and other life planning tools to begin to build my focus around the reality I am seeking to manifest moving into 2015 and beyond.

Finally, both myself and my wife have renewed our focus on gratitude. Giving daily thanks for everything that life has provided us with, most importantly giving thanks for each other. This has been a powerful practice and xmas will be a time to really celebrate the joy of being with each other and the rest of our family even more. So as 2014 draws to a close, I give thanks to the Universe for a wonderful year. I look forward to a year of powerful transformation in 2015 and I pray that the Universe will continue to guide and protect us on our sacred journey.

German Sauna

This past weekend I went to Hamburg with my lovely wife to visit my sister and her recently new born baby girl. It was a fantastic trip. Hamburg is a really vibrant city and my sister lives in the heart of the Red Light District (the Reeperbahn). Hamburg's St. Pauli district is full of character and uniquely German in so many ways.

The trip also provided me with an opportunity to try two  new experiences. The first was a 2 person flotation session (sensory depravation) with my wife and the second a visit to a German sauna.

While I have floated on many occassions, this was the first time I did it in the same chamber with another person. It was a totally different experience. Typically a flotation session is about getting some time alone to be with your thoughts in deep meditation. However, the experience of going to float with your partner is based on a completely different intention. It's much more about making time for a relaxing initmate experience together. We both enjoyed it tremendously. The float was particularly powerful as we had consummed a delicious hash brownie a few hours previously allowing us to both go fully into the experience and drift away to another dimension during the session. Uber cool!

My visit to the Sauna was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. It is a ritual that many German's follow on a weekly basis. After work on a Friday evening typically the most popular time as it sets one up nicely for a relaxing weekend.

The Sauna is co-ed and fully naked, which often puts a lot of folks from the UK off. However, once you visit it seems like just the most natural thing in the world. The venue I visited had a number of Sauna's both inside the main complex and outdoors in a beautiful Japanese garden. Having visited the Sauna one could cool off outside with a naked stroll through the Japanese garden or with a dive into an ice cold plung pool. I had to work up the courage to try the plung pool, but, once I did there was no stopping me diving back in on numerous occassions. Outside also offered seating beside a number of wood fires where many folks wrapped themselves in a gown and pulled up a chair to share a chat or just stare into the flames and contemplate life's mysteries. If one fancied a swim then there was also an indoor heated pool. So many wonderful little spots to stop meditate and then move on to the next spot. The Sauna is truly a great place to have a think and I can understand how one could achieve great clarity of thought by building it into one's regular weekly routine.

I decided to take full advantage of the opportunity that the German Sauna offers to roam naked and free in nature and consummed some Psilocybin mushrooms prior to my visit. The effect was spectacular with my senses hightened I really felt fully alive and in the moment. The nature of the Sauna means that you can't spend too long in any one spot before you get either too hot or too cold. This was perfect for my mushroom meditation as it allowed me to explore a particular avenue of thought, then snap out of it come back to the moment fully in my body and move to another location to begin a new avenue of thought. In many ways the Sauna acted as a natural mechanism to enable me time block my meditations and visions. Uber cool!

It is a pity that the German Sauna is not something we have in the UK. The British attitude to nakedness clearly a barrier to entry. Personally, I found it a wonderful experience and if I was ever to live in Germany would certainly make it part of my regular routine. As an opportunity to relax, think and connect with both nature and one's body it is second to none.

Thoughts on the Poppy



Growing up in the Republic of Ireland, Poppy wearing was not a tradition I ever practiced. In fact, to wear a Poppy in Ireland was seen by many as pro-British and therefore by extension anti-Irish. This narrow minded view of the tradition sadly still persists in many quarters of Irish society even to this day.

Since moving to the UK in 2006, I have proudly embraced the tradition and worn a Poppy each and every year. I have done this not to conform to the local customs, but, because I feel that it is right that we remember the fallen. For me the Poppy is a remembrance of our fallen ancestors from all wars across all of human history. I remember both the soldiers and the civilians that should make up the real numbers when we count the dead. Too often, as in Iraq, the civilian dead simply get forgotten. The Poppy is a reminder for me that war is always a failure of diplomacy and never a real solution.

This year being the 100^th anniversary of the First World War has seen a fantastic display of the Poppy at the Tower of London. What has been less impressive is the many voices in both media and politics who have sought to portray the British soldiers of the First World War as heroic martyrs whose sacrifice has benefited us all up to this very day. Historically, nothing could be further from the truth. The historical truth is that the First World War was a massive, needless loss of human life. The hatred it generated and its eventual settlement ultimately led directly to the 2nd World War and the subsequent division of Europe during the Cold War. Nothing good at all came out of the First World War and the sacrifice made by soldiers on both sides was anything but heroic. It was tragic.

The glorification of war still persists to this day with veterans of both Iraq and Afghanistan being spoken of as 'heroes'. These are men and women who have no doubt fought bravely and risked their lives, but, they are not heroes. They are unfortunate victims of a flawed government policy that led us into an illegal war in Iraq and a protracted war in Afghanistan with no clear objectives or outcomes. They are victims who often suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a range of other medical and psychological conditions upon their return to civilian life. Yes they should receive our support and our prayers, but, let’s not call them heroes. The act of killing other human beings is never heroic. It is always tragic.

The Poppy is an interesting symbol for the very reason that it means different things to different groups of people and individuals. I must admit that for me personally, the Poppy as a symbol also has a very close association in my mind with the Opium Wars. The First Opium War 1839-1842 and the Second Opium War 1856-1860, were fought between China and Britain. The result was that Britain effectively forced the Chinese to open up their markets to the sale of Opium by the European powers. Almost 50,000 Chinese were killed between both wars along with approximately 3,000 soldiers from the European powers. The Poppy also reminds me of the many covert wars fought in the shadows. In particular, the ways both the CIA and other intelligence agencies have controlled the Heroin trade to fund many of their covert operations. Finally, the Poppy reminds me of the ‘War on Consciousness’ that has led to worldwide bans on many plant medicines, used in traditional societies for thousands of years.  Plant medicines such as Psilocybin Mushrooms, which modern studies (http://www.maps.org/) are showing has a dramatic positive benefit for the treatment of patients suffering from PTSD. PTSD affects many of our troops returning from the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, yet the ‘War on Consciousness’ means that effective treatments like Psilocybin or MDNA cannot be utilized to treat these veterans in a clinical setting.

My embracing of the Poppy as a symbol of remembrance will continue. However, going forward I have also decided to embrace another plant symbol in order to show my support for the victims and heroes of another war – the ‘War on Consciousness’. Starting in December 2014 and continuing every month bar October and November when I will wear the Poppy, I shall wear a Cannabis leaf on my left lapel to indicate my opposition to the ‘War on Consciousness’. I hope others who support the legalization of this plant medicine and an end to the war on adult human beings sovereignty to choose their own state of consciousness, will follow suit.

Let us never forget the fallen. If ever they died for a dream, then that dream was freedom. We all should stand up for the greatest freedom there is – freedom of thought and the ability to determine our own states of consciousness! Let’s demand an end to the ‘War on Consciousness’ and let us never forget the tragedy that war always brings to those whom we love most dear, and our brothers and sisters whom we may have never met, but, with whom we are ultimately one.

How to deal with ISIS?

How much of a threat is the ISIS group actually to US and global security? And what will be achieved by launching a campaign of western airstrikes against them?

Certainly, ISIS employs gruesome tactics such as the public beheadings of hostages. But, public beheadings also occur in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia on a regular basis at the infamous "chop, chop square" in Riyadh. While the ISIS beheadings are both grusesome and deplorable they are hardly unique to the region or a tactic beyond the pale in relation what other established Governments who are western allies employ.

Also, why is ISIS carrying out these beheadings and then promoting them on internet video sites? Could it be that they want to provoke the western powers and have us enter the battle. Could it be that they need the west involved in the conflict in order to justify their narrative of a great jihad against the west. Could it be that western airstrikes will actually benefit ISIS by creating more hatred for us and driving more recruits to their cause? And if these are the motivations of our enemy then why are the western powers allowing themselves to be so easily manipulated? What positive outcomes do we think will be achieved by military intervention?

The fact of the matter is that western intervention in the region going back many years has been what has led to the creation of ISIS. An illegal war in Iraq that killed over one million civilians and left the country divided and in chaos. Blind, unequivocal US support for the apartheid state in Israel. Western backing and support for Syrian rebels added to massive funding from our allies (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey) who have been fighting a proxy war against Iran in the region. This is what has led to the emergence of ISIS.

Western military intervention against ISIS can have no positive outcome. A campaign against ISIS will inevitably lead to bombing targets in Syria, without a UN mandate! This will only draw us into further conflict with both Russia and Iran. Already US officials are talking about the goals of the mission extending beyond the elimination of ISIS to include regime change in Syria. Syria is a Russian ally and Russia has pledged to protect her against foregin aggression.

What the US and the west should rather be focused on is how they use soft power to combat the process of radicalization that leads too many young Muslim men and women to join the extremist cause. If we want to be a moral voice in the region then we need to hold our allies such as Israel and the KSA accountable to the same high standards of human rights that we hold ourselves. We must not base our military interventions on knee jerk reactions to gruesome online videos designed to provoke us into the battle, but, rather think about how our diplomacy and international policies can support a genuine movement towards peace across the region.

ISIS poses a regional threat and they should be countered by the major regional powers - Iran, the KSA, and Turkey. The US and the western powers should not allow themselves to get drawn into the conflict militarily. All western military intervention will do is create greater recruits to the extremist cause, lead to the death of more innocent civilians as a result of our airstrikes, and further inflame an already hostile relationship with major powers such as Russia and Iran.

The Bleeding Edge of Free Will

Free flowing personal expression on the bleeding edge of free will is how I intend to live my life. The great spirit has absolutely no tolerance for the decorations of society if they prevent its ability to flow freely. Culture must act as a vehicle to enable the spirit to find expression, not as a blockage. So hold your creations sacred and live with dignity, but, don't fall into hubris. Learn to laugh, both at yourself and the world. Life is wonderful. Enjoy its beauty and let your desires burn strong. Have faith that the universe will provide and have faith in your fellow man. We are all one!

Middle East conflicts

The decision by the UK House of Commons not to support any intervention in Syria looks more enlightened by the day as the so called 'rebels' we would have been supporting now appear to be the self same ISIS 'terrorists' that US this week started to launch airstrikes against in Iraq.

Why the US and Britain are still looking to get involved in Iraq/Syria is beyond me. All Western intervention in this region is entirely counterproductive. And who exactly are we supporting anyway? It's about time the Western powers took a step back and left it to the various warring factions on the ground to reach their own solutions about how to live together. This may indeed mean sitting on the sidelines as a humanitarian crisis evolves. It may mean that an Islamic state comes to power in the region. It may even mean that Iraq ultimately splits into 3 different countries. However, if there is ever to be a lasting peace the only way it will happen is if the various sides on the ground reach their own accommodations. Western intervention achieves nothing except creating more resentment and hatred for us across the region.

I notice today that the UK has now deployed RAF Tornado jets to provide greater surveillance of northern Iraq and protect the 'humanitarian' mission! These jets have the capability of launching air strikes so why hasn't parliament been recalled to sanction their use? And what remit do they actually have? We know the SAS is already engaged on the ground and today the possibility of further UK ground troops being deployed at a later date was also not ruled out by Phillip Hammond. Is the UK government getting us deeper engaged in this conflict by stealth? Certainly after the Syria vote, David Cameron cannot afford another defeat in parliament regarding intervention in the region. So is that why we are now seeing a bypassing of parliament and UK forces being engaged under the auspicious of a 'humanitarian' mission! I'm sorry, but, Tornado jets and the SAS don't signal a humanitarian mission to me - it signals intervention. So we're back in Iraq and who's to say the remit to battle ISIS won't also get us into Syria? Recall parliament now! We need a vote on this before the UK gets any deeper into the conflict.

And then there is Israel. An apartheid state, as bad as the apartheid regime in South Africa, who the Western powers seem to be completely turning a blind eye to. Again the issue in this region will never be solved so long as the US continues to provide unconditional support to Israel. Gaza is a prison camp and the current conflict is just another in a series of Israel culls of the Palestinian population. It is nothing short of ethnic cleansing and it is disgusting. It's time to expel the Israeli ambassador to the UK, boycott Israeli goods, and remove all UK support for the current regime. The only way forward in this region is a one state solution with equal rights for all and an end to any official state religion. This is what the US and the Western powers should be pushing both sides towards.

Britain has played a large role historically in creating the problems in the middle east. It now needs to take a step back and think very carefully about how it uses its influence from the sidelines in a more just and equitable manner. The government needs to listen to the UK population who have zero desire to see the country engaged in any further conflicts in the region and who also are clearly calling for a change in government policy towards the apartheid regime in Israel.

Wake up UK! We need a change in policy.

Breathe

All creativity springs from the Great Spirit that flows through every being. Breathe is the life force. Let the Great Spirit flow through you without resistance. Let breathe set you free. Play with it, experience it, be one with it. The energy of the Universe is coursing through your veins, only hindered by the mind which blocks its course. The mind is resistance. The Great Spirit as it flows will cut its course through your mind, as a river cuts its channel through the earth. This channel is the path of your life. It is an expression of the Great Spirit. Therefore, submit the mind and understand its nature as resistance. Let the Great Spirit run freely through you as it cuts its course through the mind, shaping the canyons and valleys of your soul. Flow freely with the Great Spirit to the sea and flood this world with the Great Spirit of life, love and bliss. Be in the moment, be here now, and breathe deeply. Your breath is your connection to the Great Spirit. You are your own healer. You are one with the universe. You are Great Spirit. You are not the mind. The mind will create a form and a shape for spirit to flow through, but, it is just resistance. Be one with the Great Spirit, be one with the universe, be one with the moment. Breathe deeply.

 

Thoughts create reality

This week I am going to try an experiment. An attempt to programme certain thoughts into my mind. To seed my subconscious with instructions. To dictate a reality that I wish to see manifest.

This attempt to control my mind will undoubtly meet with resistance. Existing patterns of dominant thought will surely emerge and attempt to take precedence. I will need to recognise these patterns as they emerge, acknowledge them, but, then let them go. I will need to constantly return to my mantra. This will require awareness, discipline, and faith.

There is much work to be done. There is much distraction from doing my work. I need to remain in the present moment and to focus. The time is now, the place is here. I will do my work! I will focus my intentions, programme my thoughts, and manifest a new reality.

Courage

Life can often get in the way of our passions. It takes awareness, discipline and sacrifice to ensure we keep ourselves on the path. But more than that, it takes courage. The courage to be true to ourselves, no matter what the circumstances. To speak our truth and to manifest our reality.

I struggle to find this courage everyday within myself. Life and circumstances can often appear to be overwhelming. Sometimes it seems that the very most we can do is just get through our day. To survive. But, this is not true living. When we find courage, we find the strength to thrive. To rise above our circumstances and to speak with our true authentic voice.

History has many stories of those who have lived a life of courage. These stories can inspire us to find the courage we need within our own life. I particularly like the quote below from Steve Jobs.

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

While it is good to draw strength from the stories of others, ultimately one can only find real courage by journeying within. One must take time to sit in silence and listen to ones heart. Then one must take action. Living and speaking with courage is a spiritual awakening, without which one will never realise one's true potential.

So today I say a prayer. A mantra to help me find the courage I need to follow my passions and to help others be courageous in the lives they live, no matter where they may be on this planet.

All Powerful,

My thoughts create reality.

As I listen to my heart,

My will be done.

Ukraine

What is actually going on in Ukraine?

It's quiet simple really. Russia is protecting her strategic interests in a region that is historically as close to Russia as anywhere on the planet. Should we expect her to do anything less? Well clearly we did, which is why the biggest issue in Ukraine is the utter failure of EU/US strategic policy and subsequent diplomacy.

Brussels was offered an option by Moscow months back to put together a joint bailout package for the Ukrainian economy. Brussels should have taken it. Instead we ended up with Ukraine being asked to make a zero sum choice about whether it turns towards either the EU or Russia. An utterly ludicrous choice for a country with such a large ethnic Russian population and strong cultural, strategic and economic ties to Russia.

The second mistake that the EU/US made was the immediate backing they gave for the leaders of the coup that over threw the elected president Viktor Yanukovych. More sinister than that are reports that US NGO's and EU/US security agencies played a role in stoking up the violence on the streets that led up to the revolt. By all accounts there are some very undesirable folks in the new interim Ukrainian government including far right neo-Nazi's.

It's clear that Russia has moved decisively to protect her national interests and upset a lot of the world in the process. The US follows the same principal itself every week when it launches drone strikes into Pakistan or Yemen with absolutely no mandate from the UN. So who are they to start preaching to Russia about respect for international law? We all remember the illegal war in Iraq and how NATO clearly over stepped its UN mandate in Lybia. But, this is not about who has the moral high ground. It is about how our senior politicians act strategically and how they anticipate the impact of their actions and likely counter actions by others. In the case of Ukraine the EU/US political class has been shown to be utterly clueless.

So where do we go from here? A return to the cold war? A trade war that would hurt the EU as much as it hurts Russia? A potential military confrontation between two nuclear powers? STOP! Let's get real.

The EU needs a healthy working relationship with Russia, who afterall is its largest neighbour. However, it also needs to accept that Russia has its own legitimate national interests, can be expected to follow them, and has a limit to how far it is prepared to be pushed by the west when it comes to what it sees as its strategic interests.

We need to get real, forget the sanctions and start to engage with Russia on the development of a joint plan to support economic development in Ukraine moving forward that enables the country to leverage ties with both east and west.

We should absolutely avoid any return to military build ups associated with the cold war period. This is the wet dream of the industrial military complex. It is also a road that leads absolutely nowhere good.

Ultimately, the EU needs to reassess its ties with the US. Currently, Brussels acts too much like Washington's puppet. While a strong transalantic relationship is crucial, the EU's strategic interests are different to the US and it simply does not make sense for us to continously have a single joined up approach, particularly when that approach is predominantly defined by the US.

One very good reason why we should avoid any military conflict with Russia is the obvious fact that their women are just so fucking hot! We need to make love, not war!

So get it together folks. Let's have a sensible approach to working with Russia and acknowledge the fact that they are a major power with their own strategic interests that differ from ours. This is not bad, its just reality. Let's be conscious of that and make sensible strategic choices that advance our interests while not threatening the Russians.

Child slavery in UAE Camel racing industry

Slavery occurs when one person completely controls another person, using violence or the threat of violence, to maintain that control, exploits them economically and they cannot walk away.

Unfortunately, in 2014 the worldwide slave trade is still alive and well with estimates putting the total value of the industry at close to $32 billion dollars annually. In the UK a Home Office report in 2013 estimated that up to 10,000 salves and potentially many more were currently being kept in Britian.

Slavery knows no racial, gender or age boundaries. It is one of the darkest sides of man's inhumanity to his fellow man and has been practiced since the begining of human history.

I recently saw a shocking documentary on child slavery in the UAE linked to the Camel racing industry. Camel racing is popular among the ruling elite of the UAE and traditionally has used boys as young as 3 years old as jockeys. Following pressure from the outside world laws were passed to raise the official legal age of a jockey to 15 years old. Unfortunately, it would appear that a change in the law on paper is all that has occured and no change has been made operationally to the practice of enslaving young boys into the industry. Major efforts have been made, however, by the UAE authorities to restrict all outside reporting and filming of Camel races. A link to the documentary film is included below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFUSl4GCIVs

When David Cameron visited China in 2013 there were many calls for him to raise human rights  issues with the Chinesse authorities. However, no calls have yet been made for him to raise concerns with the UAE ruling elite over the use of child slaves in the Camel racing industry. It is time that we, the British public started to insist that these concerns be raised. It is time that we put pressure on the owners of Manchester City Football club and the ruling elite within the UAE to draw an end to this barbaric practice.

Kick salvery to touch. We are all one!

e-Petition reaches 100,000 signatures!

Following my blog post last week, the e-petition calling for an independent impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, has jumped from 42,793 signatures to 126,652!

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/45969

While it would be nice to claim credit for driving such awareness of the e-petition, it would obviously also be quite delusional. The campaign started by Green Party MP for Brighton, Caroline Lucas, received a major boost last week when high profile celebrity Russell Brand endorsed and promoted the e-petition. This led to an overnight jump in the number of signatures.

Now that the 100,000 signature limit has been reached the House of Commons will be forced to debate the issue.

Also encouraging this week was an article written by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that called for a 'rethink' of UK drugs policy and the 'war on drugs'. This followed his recent trip to Colombia.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/08/clegg-britain-must-join-drugs-debate

If we want to see change and an end to the £3bn annual waste of UK tax payers money on a failed drugs policy, then we need to make this an election issue in 2015. We need to voice our concern to our political leaders and demand that they listen and if they don't we need to make them pay at the ballot box.

For too long, too many people have been silent on this issue. If we want change we need to be prepared to speak out. Let's end the 'war on consciousness' and have a more sensible approach to the formulation of drugs policy in the UK.

End drugs prohibition - Sign the e-petition

If you want to help support a more sensible drugs policy in the UK then sign the e-petition below calling for an independent impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/45969

The government continues to waste £3bn of tax payers money annually on a so called 'war on drugs' that does nothing to limit either supply or the demand. We need to move beyond broken polices based on ideology and towards common sense policies that recognise both the high costs and negative impact drugs prohibition has on our society.

This e-petition currently has 42,793 signatures. When it achieves 100,000 signatures the Government will be forced to debate the issue in the House of Commons.

Family

It's the weekend and I'm excited! My God Daughter is coming to visit me from Liverpool. Little Tanaka is only three years old. A real cheeky monkey, who never fails to brighten my day - despite the fact that she is constantly telling me how "dopey" I am!

Tanka is a Shona name that in English means "Everything is Good" and when she visits, everything is good in my world!

Although I love all my nieces equally, Tanaka is the only one whom I have had the pleasure watching grow from a little baby. Her sisters, Lynn and Kirsty, are both beautiful and intelligent young women. They were each much older when they came into my life. Equally, my own two kids were 8 and 5 years respectively when I met their mother. So Tanaka is the only person in our family whom I have actually known for her entire life! It has been such a joy to watch her little personality grow and develop over the last few years. It has also been wonderful to see the joy and happiness she has brought to the lives of her two parents Andrew and Lisa. They are both amazing loving parents who have provided a great home for all three of their girls and are bringing up some fantastic human beings.

Family is such an important thing. It's the solid foundations upon which societies are built and it's what gives us strength as we voyage through life. I know I am blessed to have the family that I do. Equally, I know that not all families are nurturing and I feel sad for those who have not had the experience of a supportive loving family to guide their lives.

Families are made up of people and all people are flawed. So fundamentally at some level all families are flawed. What defines a great family is how the individuals within it overcome those flaws. How they support each other, how they love each other and how they set aside their individual egos for the greater good of the group. It's not always an easy journey to make, especially when you are dealing with generation and culture gaps. However, it's a journey worth making as it enriches your life in ways that you would have never anticipated. Families teach you a fundamental lesson about life - that the more you give the more you shall receive. Love begets love, and sacrifice is always worth it.

The pain a family feels when one of them passes from this earth is profound. Last year saw the death of my Uncle Brendan - my mother's elder brother. He was a man whom I had looked up to all my life, a leader not just within our family, but, within the wider world. His departure left a huge gap in our collective consciousness and the pain of his passing is still acutely felt by all. However, his continued presence is still real, as the ancestors never leave us. They live on within our memories and indeed within the very core of our being as their life and their spirit is forever bound to ours. We are who we are in part because of our relationship with them, because of the legacy they have left us. This interconnectedness binds our souls across eternity. When we acknowledge and connect with the reality of their continued presence in our lives their passing is easier to accept.

Death comes eventually for us all. I find that comforting. It reminds me of the utter insignificance of my ego within the context of the Universe. However, it also highlights the divinity of collective consciousness and the need to live in the moment. Families are an expression of collective human consciousness - they teach us many things, if we choose to let them.

One of the greatest joys that all families experience is the arrival of a new born baby. The entry of another soul into the collective consciousness of the family unit with all the potential that offers, to all members of the group. This was the joy that Tanaka brought to my life and the lives of those who love her. Later this year two new arrivals will bring similar joy as both my brother and my sister are due to have their first children. It is a wonderful occasion for our family and one which I know will bring us all closer together. These may turn out to be young or old souls - either way their experience in this life is set to be shaped by some truly wonderful people whom I know will make the most amazing parents. Their lives will also be shaped by the collective consciousness of a wider group - full of both fucked up craziness and massive amounts of love. In short - they are both in for one hell of a ride!

And so I await the arrival of my little niece and her entourage :) It's going to be a wondrous weekend with some amazing humans whom I am honoured and privileged to call - my family!

Homophobia in Africa

Economic growth is sweeping through Africa these days with rates of up to 8% in many countries across the continent. This is far in excess of what is being experienced in Europe and signals a rise out of poverty for many people - although political corruption and negative foreign influence are still factors that limit and hamper progress in many regions.

Despite the optimistic economic outlook, there is still a very disturbing undercurrent of both religious and social intolerance at play in many countries. At least 36 out of the 55 countries in Africa still have laws in place which outlaw homosexuality. On the 13th January of this year Africa's largest country by population and second largest by GDP, Nigeria, brought in new laws that pave the way for a further crack down on same sex relationships with jail sentences of up to 14 years for those found 'guilty'. In other parts of the continent, thankfully, things are different with both homosexuality and same sex marriage legal in South Africa.

I am not a fan of Western countries preaching to Africa about what qualifies as social progress. Our record of negative interference on the continent over hundreds of years and the destruction that it wrecked on the indigenous civilisations of many nations does not allow us to take the moral high ground on any subject. I also wonder just how much of the homophobia that exists on the African continent stems more from Western religious influence, primarily Christianity and Islam, than from the traditional tribal beliefs of African people.

Ultimately, it's down to African countries and their people to structure their own societies how they see fit. However, I personally find the laws in countries such as Nigeria that outlaw homosexuality disgusting and practically akin to institutionalised racism. Surely Nigeria has more pressing social problems for Mr. Goodluck Jonathan to tackle?

Free Love!

Link to the status of LGBT rights across Africa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Africa

Another Vatican hate speech

I do wonder when a Vatican spokesperson will actually be prosecuted for incitement to hatred? It's long overdue.

Yet another hate speech was delivered today, this time by a newly appointed Spanish Cardinal, Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, who claims that homosexuality is a "physical defect" akin to "high blood pressure" and can be cured.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/22/pope-francis-homosexuality-gay_n_4642696.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

Everyone knows that homosexuality is rife in the Vatican. So who do they think they're kidding!

We are all also painfully aware of the shameful record the Vatican has on child abuse and its subsequent cover up in many countries. The Catholic Church should be more concerned about ending the unnatural restrictions they put on sex among their preisthood and dealing with the mental issues that such restrictions cause. They need to stop preeching to the rest of the planet on sexual morality. And, if they do preech hate, then they should be prosecuted!

Human beings are sexual animals - who cares who or how fuck?

Free Love!

Gratitude

As I awake this morning my first thoughts turn to gratitude. Gratitude for my health, for my family, for life. It's a beautiful day on this rock, that is hurtling through space, in a universe that is beyond human comprehension. I am alive, free and able to express myself in a society that is not perfect by any means, but, nonetheless offers opportunity. There is nothing I cannot achieve when I put my mind to it. The time is now, the place is here - I will do the work!

Bulletproof Breakfast!

Bulletproof Coffee, by Dave Asprey ( http://www.bulletproofexec.com/ ) was an absolute dietary revelation for me last year and made a significant impact on my morning routine. The mycotoxin free coffee mixed with grass fed butter and MCT oil was not only delicious, but, it really got me focused mentally and set up for the day ahead.


Well yesterday a little experimentation produced a Bulletproof Coffee with a twist that had me buzzing with energy and mental clarity all day. It was so fucking good that I went to bed last night excited about having it for breakfast again this morning. So what is this miraculous new recipe?


First grind and then brew your Bullet Proof Coffee beans in a French Press. Then place the following in a warm cup:

1 tablespoon of grass fed butter (Kerry Gold)

2 tablespoons of C-8 MCT oil (Bulletproof Brain Octane oil)

1 large square of 90% Dark Chocolate (Lindt)

1 tsp of Cinnamon powder

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper powder

1 tsp Vanilla extract


Add the coffee and blend with an electric milk frotter. Oh my God! This stuff is like rocket fuel. It tastes amazing and gets you buzzing like you will not believe! What's more it's all super good for you! Enjoy it with another square of 90% dark chocolate and that's breakfast wrapped - you're good until lunch :)

The Russian Lifestyle

This week the Russian government has issued an official statement slamming the EU for its "Aggressive Propoganda of Alien Homosexual Love".
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/15/russia-lgbt-rights_n_4601881.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

Seriously? Do the Russian political leaders not have more important things to attend to?

The only thing the Russian statement says to the rest of the world is - Putin is most likely a closet homosexual!

Judging by the photo below he might also have a thing for horses.........but hey each to his own. Free Love!

Wake up and smell the weed!

Interesting to see Sky News this morning run a story on Cannabis production in the UK and whether or not the time has come to legalise it.
http://news.sky.com/story/1195251/gang-sells-weed-to-primary-school-children

Unfortunately, despite raising many good points the report also continued the false negative propoganda by branding Cannabis as "an addictive substance". I'd like to see the scientifc study that Sky News are citing when they make this assertation. The fact is, there is none!

While I welcome the opening of the debate by Sky News, it is time now that the correct facts about Cannabis are put before the British public. The fact that it is one of the least toxic substances known to mankind with a higher LD50 than other commonly consumed substances such as Coffee. The fact that it has many proven health benefits and was the basis of 50% of all medicines prior to prohibition in the 1930's. The fact that it is a non addictive substance, unlike alcohol or tobacco. If we are to have a proper debate then people need to know and understand the facts. Many people worry that Cannabis is dangerous to health - if they understand that far from being dangerous it is actually benefical then many would think very differently about their attitude towards it and their stance on its legalisation.

The other point the Sky News report raised that had many viewers concerned was the fact that Cannabis is being sold by criminal gangs to primary school childern. The official response from Norman Baker, Minister of State at the Home Office, was that selling Cannabis carries a 14 year jail sentence and that the UK government is committed to cracking down on it. UH!! When will our elected representatives wake up and smell the weed! Prohibition does not work! It doesn't stop the supply and it doesn't stop the demand. All prohibition does is allow the government to abdicate their responsibility for the proper regulation of the market. If you really want to stop Cannabis being sold to primary school kids then legalise it and regulate it. It's easier for kids today to buy Cannabis than to buy alcohol or tobacco - stop spending £3bn annually on a drugs war that is a proven ineffective policy! Legalisation and regulation is the only solution.

Unfortunately, our political leaders are not actually leaders, they are followers. Followers of public opinion. If they were true leaders then they'd recognise the failed drugs policy as it relates to Cannabis, they'd recognise the many proven health benefits of Cannabis, they'd disregard the false negative propoganda, and they'd listen to the advice of their own advisory council on the misuse of drugs. However, they are too scared about what it might mean for them at the ballot box - so they continue to hold to an out of date party line. The only way we'll see a change is if ordinary people, who quite frankly have much better things to do with their lives, start to speak up and let the politicans know that enough is enough. That it's time to stop wasting billions of pounds of tax payers money on a failed drugs policy.

It's good to see the debate move more to the mainstream media and I congratulate Sky News for this, but, urge them to get their facts correct moving forward. The debate needs to move on and it needs to become a debate that is informed by the truth about Cannabis as a substance - not the false negative propoganda that is so often associated with the issue.

Let's hope that in 2014 our politicans finally wake up and smell the weed! Let's hope we see an end to prohibition and a move towards legalisation. If it's going to happen then people need to write to their elected representatives to express their dissatisfaction as tax payer and voters. This is the only way change will be brought about. We need to make Cannabis legalisation an election issue!

Historical Medieval Battles (HMB)

The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) began in 1993 as a new sport that pitted martial artists from all styles aganist each other in no holds barred unarmed combat. Today mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport on the planet and the UFC has emerged as a major mainstream business.

However, as with all things human beings are constantly seeking to take it to the next level - so enter HMB or Historical Medieval Battles! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ugjAmKR3c

In HMB the athletes suit up in full historically correct Medieval armour, drink mead and then wield every type of period weapon you can possibily imagine in an all out full contact brawl. The objective being deliver blows that knock your opponent to the floor. Combat is either 1 on 1, five V five team competition, or an all out 21 V 21 Battle Royal! The major event each year is the 'Battle of the Nations' and the top team worldwide for the past few years has been the Russians. It's bloody carnage with serious injuries to the athletes - but it's also absolutely fantastic!

In an age where Health and Safety has gone mad, here is a sport where men can be men and do the thing that we most enjoy - beat the living crap out of each other! It's a wonderful mix of history, art and athletic ability. A nobel sport where modern day Knights can kick the shit out of each other by day and then raise a glass together by night as fellowmen bound together by the strength of the warrior ethos. HMB rocks!

Subtleties in the drugs debate

"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."

 

A very funny one liner from one of my favourite comedians, Mitch Hedberg. Unfortunately, Mitch died in 2005 at the age of 37. Cause of death is believed to have been a drug overdose. The medical examiners report cited toxic levels of both Cocaine and Heroin in this system.

 

Let's be very clear. Concerns about the adverse side effects of certain illegal drugs are valid concerns. Many substances are highly addictive and toxic to humans. The state should be providing education programs about the dangers associated with the abuse of drugs and it should absolutely seek to protect our young people from getting easy access to dangerous substances.

Unfortunately, it does neither. Instead it lies to people about the harmful effects of substances such as Cannabis. A lie many young people today easily see through and so subsequently disregard everything else they hear from the government on the drugs topic. Furthermore, the prohibition of drugs allows organised crime to self regulate the market deciding what they sell to whom and at what age. Where is the protection for our young people?

So how toxic is Cannabis? The LD50 of a substance is a measurement of the toxicity of that substance. It is the amount of a substance that results in the death of 50% of the individuals exposed within a certain time period. LD50 is measured in micrograms (or milligrams) of the material per kilogram of body weight. The lower the LD50 the more toxic the substance. One might, therefore, assume that substances such as Cannabis branded 'a dangerous drug' by the government would have a low LD50?

Well you'd be wrong!

At present it is estimated that marijuana’s LD-50 is around 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. In layman terms a smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to induce a lethal response.

The quote above is from a report by the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency. It effectively says that Cannabis (Marijuana) is one of the least toxic substances know to man!  In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume including coffee, raw potatoes, and salt! Not only is Cannabis completely non-toxic, it is one of the oldest and most effective medicines on the planet. Indeed, before prohibition in the US close to 50% of all medicines were Cannabis based.

But what about Cannabis being a gateway to harder drugs? Well if the drug dealer you buy your weed from is also selling cocaine, heroin and other illegal substances then chances are you may be offered harder drugs at some point and perhaps you may decide to try these. So in that respect there may be an argument here. But, that's all the more reason to take the trade out of the hands of organised crime and regulate a legal market for Cannabis. Is there anything inherent in the chemical composition of Cannabis that would lead people to start taking harder drugs - no!

So can we please just cut the bullshit! There is no medical reason whatsoever why Cannabis should be an illegal substance. In fact, I'd rather just stop calling it a drug as I feel it would help the debate if we more accurately classified it as a medicinal plant/food. Should it be regulated? Yes absolutely - just as we regulate the sale and distribution of all foods. Prohibition is not regulation though - it's an abdication of government responsibility that has serious consequences for our society in terms of crime, health and public spending.

We need to move on from this madness and start basing our public policy around health and drugs on the truth instead of misinformation and bullshit propoganda. We need a more informed debate on this topic and we need to move towards legalisation in 2014.

Efforts to promote the legalisation of cannabis do not go hand in hand with the promotion of all illegal drugs. There are subtleties in the drugs debate. It's time our elected representatives grasped this and showed some true leadership on this topic.