TRUTH IS CRYING by Suzy Kassem: February 2011

All Parts of ONE

Do not focus too much on the east and forget the west. And do not ignore the south, to speak for the north. What happens in the east has effects in the north, as the west has in the south. And do not focus on one species and ignore the other. Or love your father but ignore your mother, or love your sister but ignore your brother. Do not forget each other. We are all part of each other. We are all ONE. - Suzy Kassem

Don't Forget about the Gorillas

WHAT IS COLTAN?

Coltan, short for Columbite-tantalite is a metallic ore consisting of Niobium and Tantalum, found mainly in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formally Zaire). When refined, coltan becomes a heat resistant powder, metallic tantalum which has unique properties for storing electrical charge. Of the 525 tons of tantalum used in the USA in 1998, 60% was used in tantalum capacitors, with a predicted growth rate of 14% per annum (from Uganda Gold Mining Ltd web site).

It is therefore a vital component in the capacitors that control current flow in cell phone circuit boards.

MINING COLTAN

Coltan is mined by hand in the Congo by groups of men digging basins in streams by scrapping off the surface mud. They then "slosh" the water around the crater, which causes the Coltan ore to settle to the bottom of the crater where it is retrieved by the miners. A team can "mine" one kilo of Coltan per day.

The tech boom caused the price of Coltan to rocket to as high as US$600 per kilogram at one point, compared to a previous value of US$65 per kilogram, although it has settled down to around US$100 per kilogram at the moment. A Coltan miner can earn as much as US$200 per month, compared to a typical salary of US$10 per month for the average Congolese worker.

80% of the world's known coltan supply is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which the UN says is subject to "highly organized and systematic exploitation."

COLTAN FINANCING THE WAR

A recent report by the UN has claimed that all the parties involved in the local civil war have been involved in the mining and sale of Coltan. One report suggested that the neighboring Rwandan army made US$250 million from selling Coltan in less than 18 months, despite there being no Coltan in Rwanda to mine. The military forces of Uganda and Burundi are also implicated in smuggling Coltan out of Congo for resale in Belgium.

A report to the United Nations security council has called for a moratorium on purchase and import of resources from the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to the ongoing civil war that has dragged in the surrounding countries.

COLTAN AND GORILLAS

The main area where Coltan is mined, also contains the Kahuzi Biega National Park, home of the Mountain Gorilla. In Kahuzi Biega National Park the gorilla population has been cut nearly in half, from 258 to 130 as the ground is cleared to make mining easier. Not only has this reduced the available food for the Gorillas, the poverty caused by the displacement of the local populations by the miners has lead to Gorillas being killed and their meat being sold as "bush meat" to the miners and rebel armies that control the area. Within the Dem. Rep. of Congo as a whole, the U.N. Environment Program has reported that the number of eastern lowland gorillas in eight Dem. Rep. of Congo national parks has declined by 90% over the past 5 years, and only 3,000 now remain.

Due to the damage caused to the Gorilla population and their natural habitat, companies that use Coltan are now starting to demand that their Coltan only comes from legitimately mined sources and is not a byproduct of the war. American-based Kemet, the world's largest maker of tantalum capacitors, has asked its suppliers to certify that their coltan ore does not come from Dem. Rep. of Congo or from neighboring countries. Such moves could lead to "Gorilla Safe " cellphones being marketed, much in the same way that Tuna meat is now sold as "Dolphin Safe".

If you have children under 4 years old, there will be no more gorillas for them to see by the time they reach 30. Enjoy them now, or urge cell phone companies to stop using coltan. Choose the life of a gorilla over your cell phone. Coltan is wiping out our entire gorilla population. Force companies to find an artificial substitute so that no more blood is shed.

02/23/11

Love Thy Planet

To understand the sizes of our neighboring planets, keep watching the top image, or click on it to see full size.

A Vision For a New Egypt

The Water Will Turn Up Knowledge

All sand, dirt and water will turn up knowledge. All that is concealed will be discovered and revealed. Keep your eyes peeled. This is the real deal. - Suzy Kassem

For You, From Me

Mabrouk Ya Masr!

The first stage of victory is completed. A new dawn is here, but the battle is not over yet. Mabrouk ya Masr! I am very proud of the children of the sun for finally RISING -- collectively. Again, alf mabrouk!

The Age of Apathy

Those that choose to remain ignorant, passive, and asleep now, are the selfish types that will STAND UP only when their comfort of living is severely threatened. Today's man does not care for the outside world as long as he has a roof and walls to contain his own. - Suzy Kassem

Remove the Voice That is Afraid of Yours

Egyptians are rated as one of the top three cell phone users in the world. They are also in the top three for the highest percentage of Facebook users in the world. They are tech-savvy, electromagnetic, and can't live without a cell phone or internet connection. If you take that away from them, you are only asking for trouble. I think it is one of the biggest mistakes a government can make.

Leaders Should Lead with Love

A good leader leads with compassion and love, not fear and blood. A country that harms its people because they are not happy with the leader -- is not a country that belongs to the people, but to the leader. - Suzy Kassem

The Fate of the Blue Marble

THE FUTURE OF THE BIG WIDE WORLD

The most dangerous people in the world are not the tiny minority instigating evil acts, but those who do the acts for them. For example, when the British invaded India, many Indians accepted to work for the British to kill off Indians who resisted their occupation. So in other words, many Indians were hired to kill other Indians on behalf of the enemy for a paycheck. Today, we have mercenaries in Africa, corporate armies from the western world, and unemployed men throughout the Middle East killing their own people - and people of other nations - for a paycheck. To act without a conscience, but for a paycheck, makes anyone a dangerous animal. The devil would be powerless if he couldn't entice people to do his work. So as long as money continues to seduce the hungry, the hopeless, the broken, the greedy, and the needy, there will always be war between brothers.

It is very strange to me how people remain silent and dormant while the "voice of the people" is being erased from political equations around the world. Our "very vocal" opinions DO NOT matter no matter how obvious they are.

Yet it makes no difference what the public majority wants anymore - anywhere. It makes no difference that most Americans are opposed to US wars, or if leaders know their people no longer want them. It is no longer about the people. Institutionalized corruption is in full blown effect. When public opinion is always, and bluntly, brushed aside, you have to question who is really running the show -- and for whom? Take note, the interests of those who monopolize and divide world regimes have never been to serve the people.

SIGNS OF CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS

A good leader leads with compassion and love, not fear and blood. A country that harms its people because they are not happy with the leader - is not a country that belongs to the people, but to the leader.
Artists are very sensitive and heart-driven, and are usually prone to speaking freely about anything that touches them. The first way to identify a corrupt society is to study public figures in the entertainment sector. If many lack real talent, or have talent but rarely speak out openly about policies that affect them besides the environment, then that country has rigid gatekeepers. There is nothing that threatens a corrupt system more than a free mind.

Elections are highly-publicized puppet shows. Many puppets in the show are handled by the same owner, and regardless of their different costumes and voices, their agenda is one and the same. The man with the most puppets in the show usually wins the audience.

Typically, in politics, more than one horse is owned and managed by the same team in an election. There's always and extra candidate who will slightly mimic the views of their team's opposing horse, to cancel out that person by stealing their votes just so the main horse can win. Elections are puppet shows. Regardless of their rainbow coats and many smiles, the agenda is one and the same.

A true democratic society is supposed to serve its people, not big businesses. The welfare of its citizens, not corporate pockets. But when you have corporations buying the seats of our political leaders, who do you think they will serve? When political candidates are chosen by the biased media and their owners, not the people - the system is corrupt. If elections have high barriers to entry, the system is corrupt.

A system is corrupt when it is strictly profit-driven, not driven to serve the best interests of its people, but those of multinational corporations. Capitalism is a social system owned by the capitalistic class, a small network of very wealthy and powerful businessmen, who compromise the health and security of the general population for corporate gain. Any system that values profit over human life is a very dangerous one indeed. Simply put, it lacks values. Self-interest does not serve the best interests of the people, and eventually such a system will collapse once its true light is discovered by the masses. Though some say that capitalism is a modern system, corruption has been the source for the demise of every great civilization.

When a plutocracy is disguised as a democracy, the system is beyond corrupt.

When people can get away with crimes just because they are wealthy or have the right connections, the scales are tipped against fairness and equality. The weight of corruption then becomes so heavy that it creates a dent that forces the world to become slanted, so much so — that justice just slips off.

Censorship exists to protect corruption. In some countries, it is usually hidden from the public eye, or made very visible to spread fear. A leader should always be open to criticism, not silencing dissent. Any leader who does not tolerate criticism from the public is afraid of their dirty hands being revealed under heavy light. And such a leader is dangerous, because they only feel secure in the darkness. Only a leader who is free from corruption welcomes scrutiny; for scrutiny allows a good leader to be an even greater leader.

A man who tells you to follow him will turn his followers into his company, while a true leader who does not tell you to follow him, will sit in the company of his followers.

Just because a man is dressed in a clean white robe does not mean his heart and hands are clean. Any man who neglects his conscience is a dangerous animal. Never judge a man by his image. Images can be bought or produced by any Hollywood producer, marketing team or fleet of stylists. Even kids know how to wear amazing costumes for Halloween. Always judge a man by the coloring of his heart and only his heart. Truth can be found in his record of actions, not intentions.

Suzy Kassem
02/09/11

Moving Pictures of a Rising Egypt

Click on photo to access images...and hold your breath:

The absolutely BEST photos that capture the true revolution -- you won't see on TV.

The American Revolution

Mascots for globalization.

Egyptian Revolution Helmets

After 30 years of martial law, Egyptians took to the streets armed with courage, and bread on their heads, to fight the Last Pharaoh. These inspiring photos were taken by Jeff Prager.

Status: Rise Up and Salute the Sun

Coming momentarily.

The Pulse on Egypt's Streets

The Many Reflections of Truth

Remember this, and remember this well: when someone is telling the TRUTH and exposing information that is meant to be hidden from the masses, the side that is being attacked and accused will use all their resources and associations to try to discredit and discount the professional merit or moral character of the person revealing the threatening information. They will do everything to cripple that person and make them appear smaller than they really are. Look at Jesus and Moses! Look at Gandhi and Martin Luther King! Study your history! Study Bush and Saddam and 9-11! Study Court TV! ALWAYS study all perspectives. Always remember that there is always one TRUTH -- and many exaggerations and lies to every story no matter where it's being sourced. There are many panels and reflections to every crystal just as there's more than one angle to every story and to every man. Just as you would conduct a SWOT analysis for your business, do one for every story you hear. Only when you reach out for Truth will you find Her -- she will not come to you sitting in front of a TV or behind a newspaper. -- Suzy Kassem

Strength in Numbers

If a wolf sees two little boys playing in the woods on one side, and a big strong man on the other, he will go to the one who stands alone. - Suzy Kassem