Tuesday, August 19, 2014

IRAQI SOLDIERS RETAKE MOSUL DAM

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER

RELATED STORIES I DONE
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/kurds-push-to-drive-isis-from-mosul-dam.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/isis-murders-more-yazidis-if-you-love.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/the-honor-diaries-how-islam-controls.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/useless-un-target-iraq-syria-murderers.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/persecussion-survivers-of-isis-stream.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/turkey-dries-up-euphrates-river-isis.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/brampton-ontarios-radical-imam-omar.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/will-isis-muslim-teorrists-walk-across.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/iraq-persecussion-malikis-gotta-go.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/iraq-persecussion-continues-malaki.html 
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/the-pope-sends-delegation-to-iraq.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/isis-wants-black-flag-of-islamic-sharia.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/christians-flee-persecution-from.html

HERES VERSES FROM THE PEACE LOVING MUSLIM ISLAMIC SHARIA SEX FOR MURDER CULT QUARAN.KILL CHRISTIANS AND JEWS.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/quran/023-violence.htm

PERSECUSSION,BEHEADINGS

JESUS PERSECUTED BIGTIME

PSALMS 14:1
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

ISAIAH 53:4
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

MATTHEW 9:34
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

JOHN 8:41
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

JOHN 10:20
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11(JESUS GETS REVENGE)
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.(JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST AND FOR SINNERS, THE GREAT WHITE THRONE FINAL JUDGEMENT).

WE ARE CHRISTIANS WE WILL BE TREATED THE SAME.

2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5 (WHY WE ARE PERSECUTED BY THE WORLD)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous (DANGEROUS) times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

MATTHEW 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

MATTHEW 24:9
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

JOHN 15:18-20
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me (JESUS) before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

1 PETER 4:16-19
16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

REVELATION 6:9-11
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain(BEHEADED) for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

REVELATION 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;(WILLINGLY-THEY CHOSE THE IMPLANT) and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL) will be a wild man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)

JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)

ISRAEL SATAN COMES AGAINST

1 CHRONICLES 21:1
1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

ISRAELS TROUBLE

JEREMIAH 30:7
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;(ISRAEL) but he shall be saved out of it.

DANIEL 12:1,4
1 And at that time shall Michael(ISRAELS WAR ANGEL) stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:(ISRAEL) and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation(May 14,48) even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro,(WORLD TRAVEL,IMMIGRATION) and knowledge shall be increased.(COMPUTERS,CHIP IMPLANTS ETC)

LUKE 21:8-10,26
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;(NEW AGE NUTCASE MOVEMENT) and the time draweth near:(THE END OF THE WORLD CROWD) go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom (ETHNIC GROUP) against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP)
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Obama says Iraqi forces retake Mosul Dam, seized by Islamic militants earlier this month-The Canadian Press By Vivian Salama And Diaa Hadid, The Associated Press | -AUG 18,14-YAHOONEWS

BAGHDAD - Iraqi and Kurdish forces recaptured Iraq's largest dam from Islamic militants Monday following dozens of U.S. airstrikes, President Barack Obama said, in the first major defeat for the extremists since they swept across the country this summer.Militants from the Islamic State group had seized the Mosul Dam on Aug. 7, giving them access and control of enormous power and water reserves and threatening to deny those resources to much of Iraq.Iraqi forces suffered a string of humiliating defeats at the hands of the Islamic State as the extremists took over large parts of northern and western Iraq and sent religious minorities fleeing.The militants' battlefield victories brought U.S. forces back into the conflict for the first time since it withdrew its troops in 2011 and reflected the growing international concern about the Sunni extremist group. Washington launched attacks from its warplanes and drones on Aug. 8.Pope Francis endorsed the use of force to stop the Islamic militants from attacking religious minorities in Iraq, although he said the international community — not just one country — should decide how to intervene.Obama called recapturing the dam by Iraqi and Kurdish forces a "major step forward" in the battle against Islamic State militants.Had the dam been breached, it could have had catastrophic consequences and endangered U.S. Embassy personnel in Baghdad, Obama said at the White House. He said the U.S. is urgently providing arms and assistance to Iraqi security forces as well as Kurdish fighters fighting the extremists."We've got a national security interest in making sure our people are protected and in making sure that a savage group that seems willing to slaughter people for no rhyme or reason other than they have not kowtowed — that a group like that is contained, because ultimately it can pose a threat to us," Obama told reporters.He also urged the badly fractured and largely dysfunctional Iraqi government to move quickly to forge a united front. He noted last week's decision by Nouri al-Maliki to step down as Iraq's prime minister, a move that raised hopes a new government could roll back Iraq's powerful Sunni insurgency and prevent the country from splitting apart."They've got to get this done because the wolf's at the door," Obama said.There were conflicting statements throughout the day from the Kurdish commanders, the Iraqi military in Baghdad, the Pentagon and the militants of the Islamic State group over who was in control of the strategic 2.1-mile dam that spans the Tigris River. Completed in 1986 under Saddam Hussein, it includes a sprawling complex with power generators, offices and employee housing. The southern end is mostly reserved for housing and offices. Before Obama spoke, Kurdish forces spokesman Halgurd Hekmat said the peshmerga regained full control of the dam and its surrounding facilities following two days of fierce clashes. But Iraq's Defence Ministry said security forces only "liberated a large part of the Mosul Dam" with the help of U.S. airstrikes, adding that forces had not freed the entire complex.Iraqi army spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said at least 170 bombs have been dismantled around the dam but many more remain. He added that militants fled to areas near the south of the complex, hiding in homes and offices on the premises.The Islamic State group denied it had lost control of the facility, saying on a website frequently used by the militants that the Iraqi government claim was a "mere propaganda war."The U.S. Central Command said it carried out 15 airstrikes near the dam Monday with fighter jets, bombers and drones. There were 25 U.S. airstrikes on Saturday and Sunday, it said.The Obama administration has also agreed to supply peshmerga forces with light weapons and ammunition, as have the French.The moves may provide Iraqi forces with a significant morale boost as they try to retake territory overrun by the Islamic State this summer.Some 1.5 million people have been displaced by fighting in Iraq since the Islamic State's rapid advance began in June. The scale of the humanitarian crisis prompted the U.N. to declare its highest level of emergency lasts week.As he returned from a trip to South Korea, the pope was asked if he approved of the unilateral U.S. airstrikes on the militants who have forced minority Christians and others to either convert to Islam or flee their homes."In these cases, where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say that it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor," Francis said. "I underscore the verb 'stop.' I'm not saying 'bomb' or 'make war,' just 'stop.' And the means that can be used to stop them must be evaluated."But, he said, in history, such "excuses" to stop an unjust aggression have been used by world powers to justify a "war of conquest" in which an entire people have been taken over."One nation alone cannot judge how you stop this, how you stop an unjust aggressor," he said, apparently referring to the United States. "After World War II, the idea of the United Nations came about: It's there that you must discuss 'Is there an unjust aggression? It seems so. How should we stop it?' Just this. Nothing more."His comments were significant because the Vatican has vehemently opposed any military intervention in recent years, with St. John Paul II actively trying to head off the Iraq war and Francis himself staging a global prayer and fast for peace when the U.S. was threatening airstrikes on Syria last year.But the Vatican has been increasingly showing support for military intervention in Iraq, given that Christians are being directly targeted because of their faith and that Christian communities which have existed for 2,000 years have been emptied as a result of the extremists' onslaught.Francis also said he and his advisers were considering whether he might go to northern Iraq himself to show solidarity with persecuted Christians. But he said he was holding off for now on a decision.___Hadid reported from Irbil, Iraq. Associated Press writers Lou Kesten and Robert Burns in Washington, Danica Kirka in London, Andrea Rosa in Dahuk, Iraq, and Nicole Winfield aboard the papal plane contributed to this report.

08/19/2014 - VATICAN INSIDER-Francis’ Outlook on the Conflict in Iraq-The Pope recalls the teaching of the Catechism about the legitimacy of halting aggressors, but he does not endorse American bombings. He also reminds us of the consequences of recent wars waged by Western powers in the area and values the role of the United Nations-ANDREA TORNIELLI

Vatican City-“Today we are in a world at war, everywhere! Someone told me: you know, Father, that we are witnessing the Third World War - but waged in chunks, in  different chapters”. Francis’ words on war, and on the bombs that kill both guilty and innocent alike, hitting women and children, describe the grim reality of today, rather than display a fear for a new imminent World War.And that is why on the face of the tragic conflict in Iraq, and the ISIS extremists who carry out a massacre of religious minorities, the Pope, while reiterating the traditional position of the Catechism, stating that it is necessary to halt unjust aggression, clearly specified that “to halt” does not equal “to bomb”. He moreover added that, contrary to what is happening, the international community, rather than a single nation, must decide how and when to intervene.The situation is tragic, and violence must be stopped. But we must never forget what happened in this region due to previous “unjust wars”, fought in order to “export” democracy or eliminate weapons of mass destructions that were never found. In 2003, John Paul II cried out with all the strength left in him to plead against  the onset of a war in Iraq. Today, the issue is not whether to wage another war but end the massacres; a situation resembling the one in Kosovo at the end of the 1990s. Then, Pope John Paul II and the Holy See hoped for an intervention under the aegis of the UN, with peacekeeping forces, to stop the ethnic cleansing.It was decided for a NATO intervention, characterised by “smart bombs” that never turn out to be that smart. This explains why, although confronting a tragic situation and the urgency of an intervention that is deemed legitimate in order to halt violence, Francis asks for an upsurge of conscience within the international community, instead of straightforward support for an American intervention.We must also not forget, in the words of the Pope, the emphasis he laid on the fact that different religious minorities are victims of violence, not only Christians. Certainly the followers of Christ risk extinction in areas where they have been present for two millennia. But it must not be forgotten that ISIS has targeted Shiite Muslims too, as well as persecuting other religious groups, such as the Yazidi.To represent current events as a showdown between Christianity and Islam, requesting new crusades, is an oversimplification which results in the ideological exploitation even of martyrdom. Thus, there is the risk of complicating further the situation that should be resolved, by identifying with the West those Christians who have also been citizens of Middle Eastern countries for the past 2000 years.

08/18/2014 -VATICAN INSIDER-Francis on Iraq: It’s up to the UN to decide how the aggressor will be stopped-Francis on the papal flight from Korea to Rome-In his interview with journalists on board the flight from Seoul to Rome, Francis spoke of ISIS’ violence: “It is right to stop an unjust aggressor. When I say “stop” I do not mean launch bombs and go to war...It is the UN that needs to work out how to intervene.” Francis wanted to visit the conflict zone and said he is ready for a trip to China. He confirmed his visit to the US and to the offices of the United Nations-Andrea Tornielli-on the flight from Seoul to Rome

The plight of religious minorities who are forced to leave Iraq, ISIS’ violence, the US bombings. The Gaza war straight after the prayer for peace. The Holy See’s relations with China, Francis’ upcoming visits, his new encyclical and the holidays the Pope spent at home. This is what Francis talked about on the flight back to Rome, answering fifteen questions put to him by the journalists travelling with him.

On ISIS’ aggression against Christian minorities in Iraq and the bombs dropped by the US

“In cases where there is unjust aggression, all I can say is that it is right to “stop” an unjust aggressor. I must emphasise the verb “stop”, by this I do not mean dropping bombs and declaring war, but stopping it. Careful consideration needs to go into how it is stopped. Stopping an unjust aggressor is right. But we must bear in mind how many times the excuse of stopping an unjust aggressor has been used by powers to take control of populations and gone to war in order to conquer. One nation alone cannot judge how an unjust aggressor should be stopped. After World War Two, the idea of the United Nations came about; this is where discussion needs to take place, asking: is this an unjust aggressor? It seems so, so how do we stop him? Nothing more than this. Secondly there are the minorities. Thank you for using this term. Because people talk to me about Christians, about the suffering, about martyrs. And yes, there are many martyrs. But here there are men and women, religious minorities; not all of them are Christians but all of them are equal in God’s eyes. Stopping the unjust aggressor is humanity’s right but it is also the aggressor’s right to be stopped so he does not cause any harm.”

On the possibility of visiting the Iraq war zone

“I am prepared to go to Iraq and I believe I can say this: when my collaborators and I learnt about the current situation religious minorities are faced with and the problem Kurdistan was facing at the time, unable as it was to shelter so many people, many thoughts went through our head. First of all we wrote the statement Fr. Lombardi  published. This statement was then sent to all Nunciatures so it could be sent on to governments. Then we wrote to the General Secretary fo the United Nations and decided to send a personal envoy there, Cardinal Filoni. Finally, we said that if necessary I could go there after I returned from Korea, it was a possibility. I am prepared to do it! It would not the best thing to do at the moment but I am prepared to do it.”

Was the peace prayer meeting with Abu Mazen and Peres a failure?

“The peace prayer meeting was absolutely not a failure. These two men are men of peace, they are men who believe in God and have experienced many awful things, so many awful things. And they are adamant that the path of negotiation, dialogue and peace is the only to solve the problem. Was the meeting a failure? I believe the door is still open. Peace is a gift from God which we earn through hard work, but it is a gift. And humanity needs to know that the negotiation room which is very important, is also a prayer room After our prayer session in the Vatican, what happened happened. But this is short-term. That meeting was not, it is a fundamental human step, a prayer. Now the smoke caused by the bombs and war makes the door impossible to see but the door remained open as of that moment. I believe in God, I believe in the Lord, that door remained open and we ask Him to help us.”

On the victims of war

“Today we live in a world that is at war, war is everywhere! Someone said to me: you know father, this is the third worlds war but split into different chapters. It is a world at war, where cruel acts are committed. I would like to focus on two words here. The first is cruelty. Children no longer matter! Once we spoke of conventional warfare, now this no longer matters. I am not saying that conventional warfare is a good thing, no. But in today’s world, bombs killed the innocent along with the guilty, children, women, mothers: they kill everyone. Can’t we just stop for a minute and think about the level of cruelty we have reached? And this should frighten us. The level of human cruelty right now is a little frightening.”

On torture

“Today torture is almost the norm in intelligence operations and some judicial processes... And torture is a sin against humanity, it is a crime against humanity. I say this to Catholics: torturing a person is a deadly sin, it is a serious sin. But it is more than this: it is a sin against humanity. Cruelty and torture. I would love you journalists to reflect in your reports about what level of cruelty humanity has reached and what you think about torture. I think it would be good for all of us to reflect on this.”

The Holy See’s relationship with China and the possibility of the Pope visiting the country

“When we were flying through Chinese airspace on the way to Korea, I was in the cockpit and one of the pilots showed me a log that showed that we would be entering Chinese airspace in ten minutes and we had to ask for authorisation – this is the norm, you always have to ask, whichever country you fly over – and I heard how they were asking for authorisation and how they responded, I was witness to this. The pilot said: the telegram if being sent, I don’t know how he did it but he did it. Then I returned to my seat and I prayed and prayed for the beautiful and noble Chinese people: a wise people.”  I am thinking of the great Chinese wise men, I am thinking of the history of science, of wisdom... Us Jesuits have our own piece of history there thanks to Matteo Ricci... Do I want to go to China? Of course! I would go there tomorrow! We respect the Chinese people. All the Church asked for was to exercise its ministry freely, to work freely. No other conditions. And then we must not forget that fundamental letter on the Chinese problem which Pope Benedict XVI sent to the people of China. That letter is still relevant today. It is good to read it again. The Holy See is always open to communication, always, because it has a deep respect for the Chinese people.”

On Francis’ upcoming trips and the hope of seeing him in Avila (Spain) in 2015

“This year’s planned destination is Albania. I am going there for two important reasons. Firstly because this country managed to form a government – remember this is Balkans we are talking about -, a national unity government comprising Muslims, Orthodox faithful and Catholics and they have an interreligious council that helps a lot and is well balanced. I felt my presence would be of help to this noble people. The other reason in this: think of Albania’s history; it is the first and only communist and constitutionally atheist country to ever exist. Going to mass was anti-constitutional! One of the ministers was telling me that – and I want to give the precise figure here – 1,820 Orthodox and Catholic churches were destroyed here. Back then, other churches were turned into cinemas, theatres ad dance halls. I felt I needed to go and I can do it in one day. Next year I would like to go to the meeting of families in Philadelphia and I was invited by the President of the United States to address the US Congress. I was also invited by the Secretary General of the United Nations to visit the UN headquarters in New York. Maybe I can do all three cities: Philadelphia, Washington and New York. The Mexicans want me go and visit Our Lady of Guadalupe  (in Mexico City) during my trip to America and I may take the opportunity to go but nothing has been decided yet.”

Francis’ relationship with Benedict XVI

“We see each other. I visited him before I left for Korea. He sent me a text two weeks ago which he wanted my opinion on. We have a normal relationship. Because I don’t think the Pope Emeritus is an exception and perhaps certain theologians don’t like this, but I am not a theologian.  I think the Pope Emeritus is already an institution because we do get old and when one reaches a certain age, one does not have the strength to govern well because the body is too tired ... One’s health may be good but there is no longer the ability to take on all the problems that come with governing the Church. If I didn’t feel I was able to carry on I would do the same. I will pray but think I would do the same. We are brothers and I have already said that because of his wisdom it is like having my grandfather with me. He is a man of wisdom. Speaking to him does me good. And he gives me quite a bit of encouragement.”

You lead a very busy life. Little rest and no holidays. Is your fast-paced lifestyle something to be concerned about?

“Yes, I have been told that. I spent my holidays at home, as I always do. I once read an interesting book titled “The happy neurotic” ("Rallegrati di essere nevrotico"). I am neurotic about some things too and I have to take care eh? One of my obsessions is that I am a little bit too attached to my own habitat. The last time I went on holiday away from home was with the Jesuits back in 1975. I always take time off but in my own habitat, I slow down: I sleep more, I read things I like, I listen to music, I pray more. And this relaxes me. I did this often in July. It’s true, the day I was meant to go to the Gemelli hospital I was ready to go but then ten minutes later I just couldn’t. That was a very busy time. Now I know I need to be more prudent. You are right...”

You are hugely popular. How do you deal with this? What’s it like for you?

“I thank the Lord that His people are happy, wishing people the best. I see it as genuine generosity from the people. Inside, I try to reflect on my sins, my mistakes, so that I don’t get too big for my own boots (Francis used the expression “credermela”, from the Spanish “creerse”, which means “to think too highly of oneself”, Ed.), because I know that this will only last as long as I do, two or three years and then... it’s off to the Lord’s house! I experience it as the Lord being present among his people, using the bishop, who is the people’s shepherd, to show them many things. It feels more natural than before, because it used to scare me a bit.”

What is your life in the Vatican like besides work?

“I try to be freer. I have work commitments and the life I lead is as normal as it gets. I would like to go out but I can’t, I can’t. Life in St. Martha’s House is normal: work, rest, chats here and there... Do I feel like a prisoner? No. At the beginning I did but some walls have been broken down now... for example (he smiles), the Pope could not take the elevator on his own, someone would immediately come to accompany him! “You go and get on with your job, I can take the elevator by myself!” And that was that,  and so eh... normality, normality.”

On the next encyclical dedicated to the protection of creation

“Cardinal Turkson and I have talked a great deal about this and I have also discussed it with others. I asked cardinal Turkson to collect together all the material that has been sent in. He gave me the first draft before the trip. It’s this big (he said widening his arms, Ed.); it’s one third thicker than the “Evangelii Gaudium”. It’s the first draft. It is not an easy topic to deal with because one can only speak with certainty about the protection of Creation, ecology – human ecology – up until a certain point. Then there are the scientific theories, some are quite reliable, others are not. And an encyclical is supposed to be magisterial so it can only base itself on certainties, on things that are certain. If the Pope said that the Earth is at the centre of the universe and not the sun, he would be wrong because he would be making a statement that is not scientifically sound. The same applies in this case too, each paragraph needs to be carefully studied. I think it will be thinned down as we have to go straight to the heart of the issue. Footnotes can be added to explain the various theories that exist. But these should be provided as additional information, they should not be included in the main body of the text which is doctrinal, meaning all information must be rock solid.”

On the beatification of the Salvatorian archbishop Oscar Romero

“The cause was blocked in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith apparently out of prudence. Now it has been unblocked. It has gone to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and is going through the same procedures as any other cause; it depends on how the Postulators handle it. It is important for things to move quickly. Because I would like clarification to be given as to what constitutes martyrdom in odium fidei, both for professing the Creed and for acting in the way Jesus asks us to with others. This is a job for theologians, and they are currently looking into this. A part from Romero there is also Rutilio Grande and others. Otehrs who were killed but did not have the same status as Romero; a theological distinction needs to be made between all of this. For me, Romero is a man of God. His cause needs to be carried forward; the Lord needs to send a sign; if it is His wish to do so he will do it. Now postulators need to crack on because there are no longer any obstacles.”

Harper government considers tightening ‘citizenship by birth’ rules-By Andy Radia | Canada Politics – AUG 18,14-YAHOONEWS

Over the past several years, the Harper government has made some tough decisions on the immigration file. They've cancelled the immigrant investor program; they've tightened rules surrounding immigration for parents and grandparents; they've rejigged the Citizenship Act, and they've tackled marriage and refugee fraud.So what's the next issue on Immigration Minister Chris Alexander's desk? It looks like it's going to be 'citizenship by birth.'Canada and the United States are the only two western countries that still automatically grant citizenship to anyone born on their soil. That means if non-citizens or non-residents have a baby in Canada, the baby becomes a citizen and can, as an adult, sponsor his or her parent for immigration. According to a 'secret' 2013 document presented to then-immigration minister Jason Kenney — put together by various federal departments — the Harper government is being urged to eliminate that birthright.The 17-page document was obtained by the Toronto Star via an access to information request.One of the main concerns is that automatically giving citizenship to those born in Canada can lead to fraud.In 2013, the National Post reported on a Canada Border Services Agency document which suggested that a number of pregnant Nigerian women made their way to Canada in a "pattern... reminiscent of an attempt to exploit birthright laws."

The Post called it "birth tourism."

Foreign-language websites now offer to house pregnant mothers close to hospitals in the “maple syrup kingdom,” while listing the social welfare benefits available in Canada — free education, free health care, child benefits, old age pension. Many of the websites offer toll free calling from China. “The best gift you can give your newborn is a Canadian passport,” reads one such website, which rates Canada favorably against the U.S. since the latter offers relatively poor welfare benefits and the costs of living and education are higher.A government source confirmed to Yahoo Canada News that they are indeed "reviewing citizenship policy with regard to the issue of birth tourism," but that no final decision has been made.Any change to the existing policy would require coordination with the provinces, as they are ultimately responsible for issuing birth certificates.Critics, however, are urging the government to proceed with caution.Some worry that the policy is too harsh and could, at some point, deem certain individuals born in Canada stateless."This proposal is in line with the government's ideological approach to immigration rather than any evidence-based solutions," immigration attorney Michael Niren told Yahoo Canada News."The government wants to block as many roads to Canadian citizenship as it can. Contrary to the trend of globalization, we are taking a more isolationist stance when it comes to immigration and citizenship. This is the opposite approach of what Canada needs, given it's aging demographic."These cases represent such a small minority of the total births per year that one can only conclude it's the government's ideology of isolation that is driving policy."Andrew Griffith, formerly a director general for citizenship and multiculturalism at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, says that the small number of children born to foreign nationals doesn't necessarily justify the cost to annul the law."There is no evidence that this is a major problem," Andrew Griffith, formerly a director general for citizenship and multiculturalism at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, told Yahoo in an email exchange." Possibly 500 cases out of annual births of some 360,000."According to the secret report referenced above, if the federal government was to nix the birthright, there would be significant costs to bear with regard to how provinces register births. A new national system for proving citizenship would be necessary, and the infrastructure for enforcement would need to be put in place.For their part, the opposition parties seem undecided on the issue.The NDP didn't respond to an email request from Yahoo Canada News asking for their views.Meanwhile, Liberal immigration critic John McCallum told Yahoo that while he's always "suspicious" of the Conservatives on immigration reform, they don't have a position as of yet.

Nato chief warns Russia against 'green men' tactics-Today @ 09:26-AUG 18,14-EUOBSERVER-By Andrew Rettman

BRUSSELS - Philip Breedlove, Nato’s top military commander, has said that if Russia does what it did in Crimea to a Nato state, it would be considered an act of war against the alliance.Referring to Russia’s actions in Crimea in March, he told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper on Sunday (17 August): “The most important thing is that Nato nations are prepared for the so-called green men: armed military without insignia who create unrest, occupy government buildings, incite the population; separatists who educate and give military advice and contribute to the significant destabilisation of a country … there is a danger that this could also happen in other eastern European countries”.He added: “I want to clarify one thing: If foreign forces seep into Nato territory, and if we can demonstrate that this approach is an aggression - then this means Article V [of the Nato treaty on collective defence] … this means a military response to the actions of the aggressor”.Breedlove and Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen sent out a similar message in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday.“Today and in the future, Nato means one for all, all for one”, they said.They noted that when the alliance holds its summit in Wales in September, it will “upgrade” its rapid-reaction force to deal with potential ‘green men’ scenarios.They said the force will “deploy at the first sign of trouble … travel light but strike hard if needed”.“Having the right capabilities, in the right place, at the right time can make the difference between threat and reassurance, between war and peace … these measures are necessary to adapt to a dangerous world and to respond to Russia's double-game”.Estonia and Latvia are considered the most vulnerable Nato members because, like Crimea, they host large ethnic Russian minorities.Breedlove spoke out in German media the same day German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with his French, Russian, and Ukrainian counterparts for a five-hour long fireside talk at the Villa Borsig in Berlin.The talks come amid new photo evidence that Russia is sending Russian-flagged military vehicles into east Ukraine on a daily basis.They also come amid concern Russia will try to use humanitarian aid to reinforce pro-Russia rebels, who have suffered setbacks, in what some analysts are calling “beige men” tactics by reference to the Russian aid personnel's beige clothes.Steinmeier said the Berlin meeting was “difficult” but “made progress on some points” and that the FMs are likely to meet again this week.Ukraine’s Pavlo Klimkin said they would probably have to hold “many more” five-hour long conversations before there is progress.EU foreign ministers also discussed Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Friday.They urged Russia to allow international monitors from the OSCE, a multilateral European body in which Russia holds a veto, to work on the Russia-Ukraine border.They also urged Russia to “reach an agreement as soon as possible” on Ukraine gas prices, after European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said he is to hold new gas supply talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.The gas initiative comes amid concern that eastern EU states who get Russian gas via Ukraine might suffer cut-offs in winter.Slovakia, which gets 83 percent of its gas from Russia, and Hungary, which gets 80 percent, spoke out against EU sanctions on Russia last week.Slovak PM Robert Fico said on Thursday: “Why should we jeopardise the EU economy? … If there is a crisis situation, it should be solved by other means than meaningless sanctions”.Hungary’s Viktor Orban told Hungarian media on Friday “the sanctions policy pursued by the West … causes more harm to us than to Russia”. He added: "In politics, this is called shooting oneself in the foot”.For his part, Lithuanian FM Linas Linkevicius, whose country gets 100 percent of its gas from Russia, noted the same day: “I would say: Better shoot yourself in the foot, than let yourself be shot in the head”.

Ukraine: Dozens of civilians killed when convoy shelled; Rebels claim no attack took place-The Canadian PressBy Nataliya Vasilyeva, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – AUG 18,14-YAHOONEWS
KIEV, Ukraine - Ukraine accused pro-Russia separatists of killing dozens of civilians in an attack early Monday on a convoy fleeing a besieged rebel-held city. The rebels denied any attack took place, while the U.S. confirmed the shelling of the convoy but said it did not know who was responsible.The refugees were attacked with Grad rockets and other weapons imported from Russia as their convoy travelled on the main road leading from Russia to the rebel-held city of Luhansk, Col. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's National Security Council, told reporters."Many people were killed, among them women and children," Lysenko said of the attack, which occurred between the towns of Khryashchuvate and Novosvitlivka. "We are not able to count the death toll at this point."When asked about a rough estimate of deaths, he said "dozens."Oleksiy Dmytrashkivsky, a spokesman for the Ukrainian government's military operation in the east, later told The Associated Press that 15 bodies had been recovered from the smouldering vehicles and servicemen were collecting the body parts of at least 10 more people.Donetsk rebel chief Alexander Zakharchenko insisted that no such attack had taken place. His deputy, Andrei Purgin, said he had no information about an attack and insisted it was not by his forces."If someone was killed, it wasn't us but the Ukrainian military," Purgin told the AP.The road where Ukraine said Monday's attack took place has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent days as Ukrainian forces try to seal off supply routes into Luhansk from Russia. It's also the same road that would likely be the route taken by a controversial Russian aid convoy if Ukraine allows it into the country.The war zone in eastern Ukraine is effectively off limits for journalists and lacks power in many places, limiting citizens from easily providing their own reports. All this makes independent verification impossible.The United States condemned the attack, but said it was unable to confirm who was responsible."We strongly condemn the shelling and rocketing of a convoy that was bearing internally displaced persons in Luhansk and express our condolences to the families of the victims," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters in Washington. "All sides must take every precaution to protect innocent lives. We are unable to confirm reports of who was responsible for the shelling and rocketing."Fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has forced nearly 344,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, a number that has only grown as the humanitarian situation in rebel-held cities deteriorates. Running water and electricity have either been cut off completely in cities like Luhansk or are getting more limited by the day.The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 22,000 people fled the main rebel-held city of Donetsk last week compared to 6,200 the week before. And city officials have released even higher numbers: Donetsk has seen at least 300,000 of its pre-war population of 1 million leave their homes, while Luhansk has only 250,000 of its 420,000 people remaining, local authorities say.Residents of Luhansk have had no running water, electrical power or phone connections for 16 days, and basic food is in short supply, leading to long lines outside shops as fighting continues in and around the city.In Donetsk, the largest city in rebel hands, several houses were hit by artillery fire over the weekend in the Budyonovsky district, which stands next to a rebel encampment.One house was still smouldering when an AP reporter visited Monday. The rocket hit the yard and set fire to a tree, which in turn set several nearby buildings ablaze. The fire destroyed the cramped, one-story home of Nina Saltanova, 79, and her paralyzed 56-year-old daughter.Asked if she wanted to leave the city, she despaired."I have nowhere to go. My daughter is disabled," Saltanova said as she tried to salvage scraps of clothing from the charred debris. "She can't walk. Because of her I can't go anywhere."Tensions have been high over the past week as Russia said it plans to send a massive aid convoy to help those in rebel-held eastern Ukraine.The more than 200 trucks, now parked in a Russian field by the border, have been viewed with suspicion by Ukraine and the West, especially since Ukrainian forces have been winning back significant territory from the rebels in the last few weeks. Ukraine suggests the aid convoy could be used by Russia to send help to the separatists — or to delay the government's advances with a timely cease-fire.The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is expected to take responsibility for the Russian convoy when it enters Ukraine, said Monday that it was still waiting for security guarantees from all sides.Russia's foreign minister, meanwhile, said in Berlin that he expects the Russian aid mission to enter Ukraine in the near future.___Associated Press writers Peter Leonard in Donetsk, Ukraine, Yuras Karmanau in Minsk, Belarus, Juergen Baetz in Brussels, Matt Lee in Washington, and Jim Heintz and Lynn Berry in Moscow contributed to this report.

EARTHQUAKES

ISAIAH 42:15
15  I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,(DIFFERNT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME) and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Quakes triggered by drilling waste seem weaker than natural ones, study says-The Canadian Press By Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press | AUG 18,14-YAHOONEWS

WASHINGTON - Man-made earthquakes, a side effect of some high-tech energy drilling, cause less shaking and in general are about 16 times weaker than natural earthquakes with the same magnitude, a new U.S. study found.People feeling the ground move from induced quakes — those that are not natural, but triggered by injections of wastewater deep underground— report significantly less shaking than those who experience more normal earthquakes of the same magnitude, according to a study by U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Susan Hough.Distance matters in this shaking gap, however. For people within 6 miles (10 kilometres) of the fault, artificial and natural quakes feel pretty much the same, she said.Hough studied similar-sized man-made and natural quakes in the central and eastern United States from 2011 to 2013, comparing the reported magnitude to what people said they felt in the USGS electronic "Did You Feel It" survey. She found that while two different types of temblors may have had the same magnitude as measured by seismographs, they had distinct differences in what people said they felt.The way artificial quakes felt was equivalent on average to a natural quake that had a magnitude 0.8 smaller. So a 4.8 induced quake felt like a 4.0 quake, Hough said. The magnitude scale used by USGS and others is mathematically complex, but a drop in 0.8 magnitude translates to about 16 times less strength or energy released.Sometimes the difference is even bigger. Hough said a 5.3 August 2011 man-made quake in Trinidad, Colorado, actually felt like a 4.0 quake, which is about 90 times weaker, based on the thousands of responses in the "Did You Feel It" survey system. The study, published Monday in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, looked at quakes in Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas and Ohio. It included a 5.7 quake in Prague, Oklahoma, in November 2011 that injured two people and damaged 14 houses, which Hough said felt like 5.1 magnitude natural quake."The hazard of these earthquakes is lower than what you'd expect," Hough said. "It's not that there's no hazard, it's just that it's a little better than you might think."Man-made earthquakes have become a big concern recently as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and other drilling injects wastewater deep underground. Scientists say that sometimes triggers shifts along existing and previously unknown faults. Oklahoma has had more than 300 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more — strong enough to feel locally but too weak to cause damage — since Jan. 1. Before 2007, Oklahoma averaged only one quake a year of that size.The artificial quakes may have less energy — only after 6 miles (10 kilometres) away — because the fault is lubricated by the injected wastewater, making it easier to slip and do so more smoothly in less of a herky-jerky motion, Hough theorized. Also these faults can be slipping with less pent-up energy than they would have if they slipped naturally years later.But induced quakes are shallow, which means the shaking has to travel less distance to buildings nearby, said seismologist Steve Horton of the University of Memphis, who wasn't part of the study. He and others said Hough's study made sense and could change how researchers look at quake intensity.___Online:The U.S. Geological Survey: http://www.usgs.gov/
USGS calculator on energy difference between two earthquakes: http://on.doi.gov/1qjQYI1
Seth Borenstein can be followed at https://twitter.com/borenbears

1 Day, Magnitude 2.5+ Worldwide
29 earthquakes - DownloadUpdated: 2014-08-18 22:15:05 UTC-04:00Showing event times using Local System Time (UTC-04:00)29 earthquakes in map area

    3.3 69km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon 2014-08-18 20:36:56 UTC-04:00 1.8 km
    2.7 67km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon 2014-08-18 19:39:56 UTC-04:00 0.5 km
    2.6 9km SSW of Mariposa, California 2014-08-18 18:08:56 UTC-04:00 21.9 km
    4.7 35km ESE of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 17:44:27 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
    4.5 26km S of Little Sitkin Island, Alaska 2014-08-18 17:07:03 UTC-04:00 73.7 km
    5.7 43km ESE of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 14:08:23 UTC-04:00 10.0 km

    2.5 6km N of Yale, Oklahoma 2014-08-18 12:22:46 UTC-04:00 4.2 km
    2.8 44km NW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico 2014-08-18 12:11:11 UTC-04:00 6.0 km
    4.6 62km SSW of Palimbang, Philippines 2014-08-18 11:53:20 UTC-04:00 519.0 km
    5.1 154km NNW of Visokoi Island, 2014-08-18 11:40:44 UTC-04:00 17.0 km
    4.6 80km NNW of Mendoza, Argentina 2014-08-18 11:10:47 UTC-04:00 98.0 km

    2.6 18km E of Waukomis, Oklahoma 2014-08-18 10:40:43 UTC-04:00 4.3 km
    2.5 24km WSW of Coalinga, California 2014-08-18 10:03:18 UTC-04:00 5.1 km
    2.5 12km W of Yale, Oklahoma 2014-08-18 09:07:56 UTC-04:00 8.0 km
    5.8 26km E of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 07:51:34 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
    5.2 33km E of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 07:23:03 UTC-04:00 10.0 km

    2.5 3km NW of West Hills, California 2014-08-18 07:21:35 UTC-04:00 5.1 km
    3.9 63km S of Amukta Island, Alaska 2014-08-18 06:17:12 UTC-04:00 4.8 km
    4.9 31km E of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 04:05:26 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
    3.3 102km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico 2014-08-18 01:32:19 UTC-04:00 50.0 km
    5.6 45km E of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 01:25:50 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
    3.7 7km N of Big Bear City, California 2014-08-18 00:55:56 UTC-04:00 7.6 km
    4.7 45km ESE of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 00:39:30 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
    4.9 33km E of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-18 00:20:41 UTC-04:00 10.0 km

    2.9 44km E of Old Iliamna, Alaska 2014-08-18 00:04:51 UTC-04:00 100.0 km
    4.5 25km E of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-17 23:11:30 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
    4.7 21km ESE of Dehloran, Iran 2014-08-17 23:01:33 UTC-04:00 10.0 km

    3.4 13km S of Boley, Oklahoma 2014-08-17 22:50:09 UTC-04:00 8.9 km
    6.2 36km SE of Abdanan, Iran 2014-08-17 22:32:05 UTC-04:00 10.0 km 

ALLTIME