text:
By COGwriter
Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy?
This article will attempt to answer those questions with facts, news report, and sacred scripture.
Here is a synopsis of some recent history related to a Eurasian Union as well as a group called the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation :
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO (simplified Chinese: 上海合作组织; traditional Chinese: 上海合作組織; pinyin: Shànghǎi Hézuò Zǔzhī; Russian: Шанхайская организация сотрудничества (ШОС), Shankhayskaya organizatsiya sotrudnichestva) is a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Wikipedia, viewed 08/13/13)
The Eurasian Union (EAU; Listeni/ˌjʊəreɪʒənˈjuːnjən/) is a proposed political and economic union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and other countries, in particular the post-Soviet states. The idea, based on the European Union's integration, was brought to attention in October 2011 by the then-Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, but was first proposed as a concept by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, during a 1994 speech at a Moscow university. On 18 November 2011, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement, setting a target of establishing the Eurasian Union by 2015. The agreement included the roadmap for the future integration and established the Eurasian Commission (modelled on the European Commission) and the Eurasian Economic Space, which started work on 1 January 2012...The Eurasian Union is said to be the brainchild of Vladimir Putin in the wake of his third term as the President of Russia. If realised, it would comprise a number of states which were part of the former Soviet Union: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. According to The New York Times, several candidates in Kyrgyzstan's 2011 presidential election have endorsed the concept. Tajikistan's government said they were considering the possibility of membership...
Russian political scientist Dmitry Orlov stated that apart from post-Soviet states, membership to the Eurasian Union could be expanded to include other countries that have been historically or culturally close, such as Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Mongolia...(Eurasian Union. Wikipedia, viewed 08/12/13)
Vladimir Putin is a leader who has directly been part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and he has been the main push for the Eurasian Union (EAU). The Eurasian Union is also known as the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
As far as places like Finland go, notice the following:
After annexing Crimea and with troops massed on the border of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin will not stop trying to expand Russia until he has "conquered" Belarus, the Baltic states and Finland, one of his closest former advisers has said.
According to Andrej Illarionov, the President's chief economic adviser from 2000 to 2005, Mr Putin seeks to create "historical justice" with a return to the days of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Soviet Union under Stalin. Speaking to the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, Mr Illarionov warned that Russia will argue that the granting of independence to Finland in 1917 was an act of "treason against national interests". "Putin's view is that he protects what belongs to him and his predecessors," Mr Illarionov said. "Parts of Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States and Finland are states where Putin claims to have ownership. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-wants-to-regain-finland-for-russia-adviser-says-9224273.html
Finland, itself, has concerns that Russia may use military and other means to take it back (see also Vladimir Putin named world's most powerful person; Finland worried he may want take it over). Finland is currently part of the European Union and as such cannot be in that and the Eurasian Union.
As far as the idea of a Eurasian Union, here are comments from the October 2011 speech by Vladimir Putin (note: His words are in Russian, and below that I have machine translated them into English):
Строительство Таможенного союза и Единого экономического пространства закладывает основу для формирования в перспективе Евразийского экономического союза. Одновременно будет идти и постепенное расширение круга участников Таможенного союза и ЕЭП за счет полноценного подключения к работе Киргизии и Таджикистана.
Мы не останавливаемся на этом и ставим перед собой амбициозную задачу: выйти на следующий, более высокий уровень интеграции — к Евразийскому союзу.
Какими нам видятся перспективы и контуры этого проекта?
Во-первых, речь не идет о том, чтобы в том или ином виде воссоздать СССР. Наивно пытаться реставрировать или копировать то, что уже осталось в прошлом, но тесная интеграция на новой ценностной, политической, экономической основе — это веление времени.
Мы предлагаем модель мощного наднационального объединения, способного стать одним из полюсов современного мира и при этом играть роль эффективной «связки» между Европой и динамичным Азиатско-Тихоокеанским регионом. В том числе это означает, что на базе Таможенного союза и ЕЭП необходимо перейти к более тесной координации экономической и валютной политики, создать полноценный экономический союз.
Сложение природных ресурсов, капиталов, сильного человеческого потенциала позволит Евразийскому союзу быть конкурентоспособным в индустриальной и технологической гонке, в соревновании за инвесторов, за создание новых рабочих мест и передовых производств. И наряду с другими ключевыми игроками и региональными структурами — такими как ЕС, США, Китай, АТЭС — обеспечивать устойчивость глобального развития.
Во-вторых, Евразийский союз послужит своего рода центром дальнейших интеграционных процессов. То есть будет формироваться путем постепенного слияния существующих структур — Таможенного союза, Единого экономического пространства.
В-третьих, было бы ошибкой противопоставлять Евразийский союз и Содружество Независимых Государств. У каждой из этих структур есть свое место и своя роль на постсоветском пространстве. Россия совместно с партнерами намерена активно работать над совершенствованием институтов Содружества, насыщением его практической повестки.
Читайте далее: http://izvestia.ru/news/502761#ixzz2bm9sqBZt
Construction of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space lays the foundation for the formation of a future Eurasian Economic Union. At the same time will go and the gradual expansion of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space through a full connection to the work of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
We do not dwell on it and set an ambitious goal: get to the next higher level of integration - the Eurasian Union.
What we see them and outline the prospects of this project?
First, we are not talking about that in one form or another to recreate the Soviet Union. It would be naive to try to restore or copy something that already is in the past, but the tight integration to the new value, the political, the economic basis - it's imperative.
We propose a model of a powerful supranational union capable of becoming one of the poles of the modern world and play the role of an effective "link" between Europe and the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. In particular, this means that on the basis of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space should move towards closer coordination of economic and monetary policy, to create a full-fledged economic union.
Addition of natural resources, capital, strong human potential Eurasian Union will be competitive in the industrial and technological race, the competition for investors and for the creation of new jobs and advanced production facilities. And along with other key players and regional structures - such as the EU, the U.S., China and APEC - to ensure stability of global development.
Second, the Eurasian Union will serve as a center for further integration. That is, will be formed by the gradual merging of the existing structures - the Customs Union, the Common Economic Space.
Thirdly, it would be a mistake to oppose the Eurasian Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Each of these structures has its place and its role in the post-Soviet space. Russia and its partners will actively work to improve the institutions of the Commonwealth, the saturation of its practical agenda. (Portions of Izvestia article machine-translated into English 08/12/13)
So, Vladimir Putin originally proposed what seems to be an economic union similar to the European Union. But neither he nor the then President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, were the first to propose suggest something like this.
The following was written by the late Herbert W. Armstrong prior to that:
"Gog" in the land of "Magog" is the vast regions of the U.S.S.R. in northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific. "Meshech" is Moscow, "Tubal" is Tobol'sk.
Notice the allies who come with them in this future battle. You will find "Gomer," "Togarmah," "Magog," "Meshech," "Tubal" identified in Genesis 10 as the sons of Japheth, father of the Eurasians. (Armstrong HW. Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States, reprint 1980, p. 8)
The idea of a Eurasian Union is consistent with biblical prophecy.
Further steps for this union have began:
Eurasian Union (EAU), is without a doubt the dream of Russian President Vladimir Putin who proposed forming a Eurasian Union with Kazakhstan and Belarus and in November 2011, the presidents of these three countries signed an agreement, a key breakthrough, to launch and make it fully operational by 2015... Strategic experts say Eurasian Union is a Moscow's teeth crushing reply to USA on NATO expansion in Eastern Europe and central states will come in a position to bargain whether to look towards Europe or enter into Eurasian Union to grab maximum economical and financial benefits offered to them. (Alam SS. Why Dream of Eurasian Union? 29 July 2013. http://blogs.thenews.com.pk/blogs/2013/07/why-dream-of-eurasian-union/)
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to set up a Eurasian economic union, modelled on the EU, with a target date of 2015. The three countries already have a customs union but now aim to go further by removing trade barriers. (Russia sees union with Belarus and Kazakhstan by 2015. BBC, Novemberr 18, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15790452 viewed 08/12/13)
And while that may not sound like much of a start, the European Union started originally as a trade pact between the relatively small nations of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (called Benelux), and now has 28 nations part of it.
The Eurasian Union was officially agreed to on May 29, 2014:
Putin met Thursday with his counterparts from Kazakhstan and Belarus in the Kazakh capital, Astana, to initiate the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin has long sought to form the bloc in hopes that it would provide an Eastern counterweight to economic and political powerhouses such as the European Union and the United States. The new codes of the union, scheduled for launch on Jan. 1, will give the citizens of member states equal employment and education opportunities across all three nations. The three presidents also said Thursday that the deal would involve collaborative policies on key sectors, including energy, technology, industry, agriculture and transport.
"A new geoeconomic reality of the 21st century is being born today," said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, according to Russia's Interfax news agency. The deal, 20 years in the making, was "a hard-won achievement," he said, and "a blessing for our people." "It's your success, if not to say triumph," Putin told Nazarbayev, according to Interfax. (Hauslohner A. Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus form Eurasian Economic Union. Washington Post, May 29, 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-kazakhstan-belarus-form-eurasian-economic-union/2014/05/29/de4a2c15-cb01-4c25-9bd6-7d5ac9e466fd_story.html viewed 06/07/14)
Notice also that this Eurasian Union, like the European Union, is expected to have more military cooperation:
Stretching from the Polish border to the Pacific, the length of the former Soviet Union, the new Eurasian Union will be the nucleus of a larger transnational entity. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are uniting their economies, legal systems, and customs services to create a stronger Eurasian global player. They are coordinating their militaries through the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and Putin is pushing for more coordination of their security services. This geopolitical consolidation will likely affect their neighbors' sovereignty, independence, and political orientation. Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Ukraine may be considered for future membership in the Eurasian Union.
A Eurasian Union that evolves into a Russian sphere of influence would adopt a mercantilist approach to the global economy. It will likely monopolize regional security...The Eurasian Union is based on two major documents: the Customs Code and the Codified Agreement on the Customs Union and Common Economic Space, which spell out the legal rules and norms for the functioning of a common market. This is a major break with past integration efforts, which generated hundreds of vague, fragmented agreements that largely remained unimplemented.
The key institution is the Eurasian Commission, which was launched in July 2012. Similar to the Commission of the European Union, its main responsibility is to ensure smooth operation of the common market by enforcing rules and regulations and to carry out initiatives for further integration. The commission has jurisdiction over tariff and non-tariff regulation (e.g., sanitary controls), customs administration, technical regulation, competition policy, energy, transport, intellectual property protection, migration, and other areas. (Cohen A. Russia's Eurasian Union Could Endanger the Neighborhood and U.S. Interests. Heritage Foundation, June 14, 2013. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/06/russias-eurasian-union-could-endanger-the-neighborhood-and-us-interests viewed 08/12/13)
Notice the following:
4 December 2012
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the EU-Russia summit in Brussels later this month. But he will make sure his hosts welcome him as the representative of the Eurasian Union - Putin's pet geopolitical project, which bears similarities to the EU. (Putin to visit Brussels as 'Eurasian Union' leader. EurActiv, December 4, 2012. http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/putin-comes-eu-eurasian-union-le-news-516419 viewed 08/12/13)
When the conference began, Vladmir Putin stated (the following was professionally translated) the following to the Europeans (such as then EU President Herman Van Rompuy):
An important factor in our relations is the Eurasian economic integration between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. We have been informing you of the progress of this alliance all along...(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD9eY3Sye00 viewed 08/12/13)
Vladimir Putin was at the conference representing and promoting the then fledgling Eurasian Union. Here is some more about it:
14 August 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Azerbaijan has caused a lot of judgements about the new trends of Russian policy in the Caucasus, which will be continued in specific agreements signed in Baku...it is also a fact that the Armenian and Ukrainian products in most cases are not competitive in the European markets, and both countries need, of course, the Russian market. The CIS is almost non-existent, but the Eurasian Union will exist. And there's a very big opportunity for these products, they're more competitive...and the norms in the Eurasian Union will be more and more like European ones. (Sattarov O. Alexander Rahr: "Russia moves toward a pragmatic cooperation with Azerbaijan." Vestnik Kavkaza, August 14, 2013. http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/43869.html)
A group is being formed. And while China is not part of the original group, China will end up in a military cooperation with Russia and its allies. Notice the following from a while back that helps demonstrate that
SANYA, Hainan, April 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao met his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday in the southern Chinese beach resort of Sanya and the two leaders agreed to further improve cooperation and safeguard common interests. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-04/13/c_13827530.htm
Meeting for the second time in four months, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today discussed ways to push the unique bilateral strategic partnership that covers a wide range of issues, including defence, space and trade and economy.
The two leaders, who are here for the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) Summit tomorrow, took stock of the bilateral relations as also the global situation having impact on their countries. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1693868.ece
Russia, China Have Strong Military Ties – Putin August 16, 2013 Russia and China have strong military ties, as exemplified by a recent series of joint exercises in the Ural Mountains, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday. "We have been successfully collaborating in the military and technical sphere," Putin said at a meeting with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi. "Exercises between our armed units testify to that." http://www.eurasiareview.com/16082013-russia-china-have-strong-military-ties-putin/
Russia, China, and India are continuing to try to work together, as are other Gentile nations. The fulfillment of time of the Gentiles is rapidly approaching (cf. Luke 21:24).
Notice that India wants to deal with the Eursasian Union:
June 18, 2015
MOSCOW: India will sign a free trade agreement with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to boost trade and economic ties with the region, an Indian diplomat said on Thursday.
"We are definitely signing this agreement", Amit Telang, first secretary of India's embassy in Russia told TASS news agency.
The agreement will be signed at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2015). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-to-sign-free-trade-pact-with-Eurasian-Economic-Union/articleshow/47722679.cms
Notice some reports about other lands:
Pakistan, Russia agree to broaden scope of existing tiesBy APPPublished: September 3, 2011
DUSHANBE: President Asif Ali Zardari and his Russian counterpart Anatolyevich Medvedev, during the Quadrilateral Summit, agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and to broaden the scope of existing equation with extended trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation.
Russia, N. Korea To Hold Joint Military Exercises
13 September 2011 MOSCOW – Russia and North Korea will stage their first joint military exercises next year after agreeing to expand their ties during Kim Jong-Il's visit to Russia last month, a general said on Sept. 13…Kim held rare talks in Siberia with President Dmitry Medvedev that focused on trade and economic assistance. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7665419&c=ASI&s=TOP
Central Asia Can't Be Forgotten
August 14, 2013...
...the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the proposed Eurasian Economic Union have not successfully facilitated integration and may possess more importance for their Russian and Chinese sponsors than for those living in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Today, emerging strands of a twenty-first-century version of the old Silk Road connecting Europe with the Far East and South Asia hold great potential for turning that comparative disadvantage into a new, cheaper, speedier and more reliable transit way between and among Europe, the Levant, India and China. If that potential can also create jobs in Central Asia and the Caucasus, it will help to bolster prosperity and hope in a part of the world whose prospects urgently need brightening. http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/central-asia-cant-be-forgotten-8886
Eurasian Economic Union to replace Customs Union
India, Turkey and even Syria may become members of this new economic bloc.
At a summit held in Minsk, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan confirmed their intention to form a Eurasian Economic Union in 2015, on the basis of the Customs Union. Subsequently, Turkey, India and even Syria may join this new alliance, according to the leaders...
Putin kept in reserve his main argument in favor of further integration. He said that, during Monday's visit of the Indian prime minister to Moscow, the prime minister asked him to consider the possibility of signing a free trade area agreement with the Customs Union.
At the same time, Vladimir Putin, at a press conference after the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk, said that Ukraine would not be able to join the union after the signing of the agreement on associated membership in the EU. http://rbth.ru/international/2013/10/28/eurasian_economic_union_to_replace_customs_union_31237.html
All is not yet in place, but many are working towards a broad confederation in Eurasia. Though all proposed countries (like Syria) will not remain part of it.
Russia is trying to gain more cooperation throughout Asia (and Vladmir Putin is expected to offer a deal, including involving military weaponry to Azerbaijain on August 13, 2013 (http://armenpress.am/eng/news/728892/putin-to-visit-azerbaijan-on-august-13.html).
Notice also the following about the edge of Europe:
July 29, 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Ukraine over the weekend to attend a joint commemoration marking the 1,025th anniversary of Russia's conversion to Christianity, which took place in the original Russian state centered in Kiev.
Mr. Putin used the occasion to press a far more secular and, for the Kremlin, urgent agenda. Ukraine is facing an historic choice that may determine its development for decades to come. Much of Russia's own strategic future plans also revolve around what it decides.
The Kremlin wants Ukraine to integrate economically with Russia by joining a Moscow-led customs union and then go on to become part of Putin's grand "Eurasian Union" of former-Soviet states, which would have an eastward-looking focus.
But Ukraine plans to sign a landmark association agreement with the European Union in November, which would grant it trade preferences with Europe and preclude membership in an alternative trading bloc such as Russia's customs union.Putin arrived in Kiev Saturday, with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church in tow, to attend lavish celebrations marking the day in 988 AD when Prince Vladimir of Kiev adopted Orthodox Christianity and then ordered a mass baptism of his subjects in the Dneiper River. Though the church has since fragmented, millions of Ukrainians still adhere to the Moscow-based church headed by Kirill. (Weir F. Putin to Ukraine: You belong with Russia, not Europe. Christian Science Monitor, July 29, 2013. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2013/0729/Putin-to-Ukraine-You-belong-with-Russia-not-Europe viewed 08/12/13)
And I believe that it is most likely that at least part of Ukraine will ultimately side with Russia and its allies after it finally sees some of what will be happening in Europe. But Ukraine could split further as well as it is not clear that all in Ukraine are Medes (see also Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future).
What about what has been going on with Ukraine, Crimea, Moldova, and Georgia?
Notice the following:
March 9, 2014
What is Vladimir Putin up to? The crisis in Ukraine, brought to a boil when Russia's president sent troops into the Crimean peninsula, has created almost a cottage industry of guessing at the autocratic leader's intentions from one day to the next.
When it comes to Putin's long-term strategy, however, there is at least one concrete plan that offers some insight, and one specific date that Russia observers are looking ahead to. That date, Jan. 1, 2015, is expected to mark the birth of an important new organization linking Russia with an as-yet-undetermined constellation of its neighboring countries—an alliance Putin has dubbed the Eurasian Union.
Currently, only two nations besides Russia, Belarus and Kazakstan, have signed on. A number of other post-Soviet states, including Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, have signaled interest in joining. It's expected to build on an existing regional trade pact to establish common policies on labor migration, investment, trade, and energy…
For all its ambition and the grandeur of its name, the Eurasian Union hasn't been discussed much in the West outside of foreign-policy circles; when asked about it recently, the State Department declined to comment. This does not mean US officials aren't worried about its implications.
In December 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made a remark that, to date, seems to represent the American government's only public position on Putin's idea: "There is a move to re-Sovietise the region," she said. And while of course the new entity wouldn't be called the USSR, she said, "Let's make no mistake about it. We know what the goal is and we are trying to figure out effective ways to slow down or prevent it."…
But it's worth noting, as the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, that Russia experts have always considered that country the crown jewel—and even a necessary anchor—of any successful version of the Eurasian Union. "If you have Ukraine, the Eurasian Union moves a little further west, and puts it right on the border of the EU," said Hannah Thoburn, a Eurasia analyst at the Foreign Policy Initiative, a Washington-based nonprofit. "Russia desperately wants to have Ukraine." http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/03/09/putin-long-game-meet-eurasian-union/1eKLXEC3TJfzqK54elX5fL/story.html
The above comments from Hillary Clinton partially explain why the USA has objected so loudly to a relatively peaceful takeover of Crimea (reportedly 1-2 people killed and a couple of people injured), in which the Crimeans themselves overwhelmingly voted to approve (see also Russian nuclear threat against USA, Crimea, EU, and WWIII). Crimea has since been annexed and is now part of the Russian Federation which means it will also be part of the Eurasian Union unless something changes.
Various ones in Ukraine (see Russian forces storm Ukraine bases in Crimea and residents of Donetsk take to the streets calling for a vote to join Russia; cruise missile threat to USA?) and Moldova (see More in Ukraine and Moldova look to Putin; Crimeans overrun Ukrainian naval base; Dumping dollars?) want to either join the Russian Federation or at least join the Eurasian Union. Those in Georgia are less inclined, but even some there have expressed interest as well (see Some support in Georgia for Eurasian Union), although its current leadership leans more toward the European Union.
If the political polls are right, the Communist party could win the upcoming election in Moldova (see More in Ukraine and Moldova look to Putin; Crimeans overrun Ukrainian naval base; Dumping dollars?). Moldova may decide to ask to either join the Russian Federation or at least the upcoming Eurasian Union.
Territorial splits are also a possibility.
Notice a machine translation, as well as the original Russian, about a plan for Ukraine:
March 24, 2014
Media released documents allegedly developed the National Security Council of Russia, which describe the strategy capture the Russian Federation "Russian" regions of Ukraine - all the east, center, south and north and Kiev.
Chief Editor of "KyivPost" Catherine Gorchinskaya distributed social networking plan that was allegedly made by the Council of National Security of the Russian Federation in the days of mass struggles in the center of Kiev. Clashes in Ukraine the document's authors decided to use to your advantage. In particular, we plan to establish control over the capital of Ukraine and attach "Russian regions" of Ukraine, in particular, Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kiev, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odessa area.
"Only a complete entry Russian territories in Ukraine, namely Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kiev, Kherson, Nikolaev, Odessa regions in Russia can guarantee peace, security and prosperity for their populations, as well as reliable protecting the interests of Russia "- the document says.
СМИ обнародовали документы, якобы разработанные Советом национальной безопасности России, в которых говорится о стратегии захвата РФ "российских" областей Украины - всего востока, центра, юга и севера и Киева.
Главный редактор издания "KyivPost" Екатерина Горчинская распространила в соцсетях план, который якобы был составлен Советом нацбезопасности РФ еще во времена массовых противостояний в центре Киева. Столкновения в Украине авторы документа решили использовать в свою пользу. В частности, планируется установить контроль над столицей Украины и присоединить "российские области" Украины, в частности, Крым, Луганскую, Донецкую, Запорожскую, Днепропетровскую, Черниговскую, Сумскую, Харьковскую, Киевскую, Херсонскую, Николаевскую и Одесскую области.
"Только полное вхождение территорий российских областей Украины, а именно Крыма, Луганской, Донецкой, Запорожской, Днепропетровской, Черниговской, Сумской, Харьковской, Киевской, Херсонской, Николаевской, Одесской областей в РФ может гарантировать мир, безопасность и процветание их населению, а также надежную защиту интересов России", - говорится в документе. (http://ru.tsn.ua/politika/v-smi-poyavilsya-plan-putina-otnositelno-zahvata-ukrainy-vplot-do-kieva-356615.html)
Russia clearly wants Ukraine. But because of that, some, including Kazakhstan, are having concerns about Russia and event the Eurasian Union (see Ukrainian fighting, Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian Union).
Despite Russian hopes and plans, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia all signed trade and political agreements with the European Union on June 27, 2014 (see Ukraine, Moldova, and George sign deals with European Union; Russia not pleased). Yet, not all in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia want to be part of the European Union, some prefer to be in Russia's upcoming Eurasian Union. Those that become disillusioned/disappointed by the EU may ultimately back out of it.
Though much of the world does not seem to realize that it somewhat exists, Russia is claiming that there are already significant economic benefits from the 'Eurasian Union.'
Notice the following from 2013:
MINSK, 8 August (BelTA) - The Eurasian integration project helped the Customs Union (the Troika) member countries increase trade by 40-50%, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with the Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2, BelTA has learnt.
Asked whether this project works, Dmitry Medvedev said: "It works. If the audience of your program and your channel is interested, our trade went up by 40-50%." This fact further consolidated relations between the Troika countries...
Dmitry Medvedev went on saying that this will be an equal and modern integration project in which economic potentials will be harmonized and mutually beneficial forms of trade, investment and humanitarian cooperation used. "Now the practical implementation of this idea is underway… We are in the middle of implementing it and we think that this is a good way to integrate our economies. How can it be interesting for Georgia or other countries? The answer is that we are neighbors. Our countries will never be neighbors with the United States of America whatever happens," he stressed. (Customs Union trade up 40-50% due to Eurasian integration. BelTA, August 8, 2013. http://news.belta.by/en/news/politics?id=722992 viewed 08/12/13)
Notice that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is reminding countries that border Russia that they will never border the United States so that trade and cooperation with neighboring states (like Russia) makes financial sense for them.
So, a trade block seems to be forming.
The Eurasian block also wants to have a certain amount of cooperation with China. Basically, Russia and China both wish to cooperate more together so that they can help displace the role of the US dollar in international trade.
August 12, 2013
Russia wants to be seen as a strong, resource-heavy player in Europe, worthy of mention in the same sentence as the U.S. and China when the discussion turns to global geopolitical and economic influence. http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/08/12/Sochi-Olympics-Vanity-Project/
Recent media reports in China and Russia suggest that China is continuing to consider backing the yuan with gold. Since 2005, we have said that such a move by China was likely as China seeks to become a superpower and lessen and undermine U.S political dominance. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article41572.html
For a multitude of decades following the end of World War II, the U.S. dollar has reigned supreme as the universal currency with which most international trade was conducted…
Even as China awakened, and became the world's runnerup world's economic superpower, its "yuan" barely increased as a sovereign currency for global trade in general. If anything, the dollar has maintained its strength, and then some, as the foreign investment magnet has gravitated toward the U.S. This requires conversion by other world currencies into the dollar.But, now, an unpublicized component of the recent Sino-Russian Alliance has been a joint effort to campaign for its relative currencies to be accepted in lieu of the greenback. This is based on Russia's massive exports of oil and natural gas, and China's unparalleled dominance in world export of finished commercial, industrial and consumer goods, as well as commodity components. A few preliminary statistics indicate progress in that direction:
1) China's foreign exchange reserve, which has increased from $2.2 trillion in 2009 to $3.4 trillion currently, has been offset by China's U.S. dollar reserves decrease from 69% to 54% during the same time period.
2) The People's Bank of China has signed nearly two trillion yuan worth of currency swap deals with 20 countries and regions, including Hong Kong.
3) China and Russia have aggressively built up their gold reserves, still recognized worldwide as a stabilizing backup for world currencies used in ongoing international trade. This has greatly curbed the U.S.'s one indisputable world lead, which the China/Russia combine is attempting to eventually overtake. http://voices.mydesert.com/2013/08/09/chinarussia-attempt-to-dethrone-us-dollar-currency-supremacy/
China continues to hoard gold en masse. In June, China imported 104.6 tonnes from Hong Kong. That would bring China's gold imports from Hong Kong to 1,160 tonnes since the beginning of this year. Officially, China reports its total gold holdings at around 1,000 tonnes. Yet speculation is widespread that it could be holding somewhere between 7,000 to 10,000 tonnes, surpassing the United States' 8,113 tonnes. China is apparently preparing to adopt an impending gold standard.
Yao Yudong, a member of the People's Bank of China's Monetary Policy Committee, recently penned an article in the China Securities Journal, in which he called for a new Bretton Woods system. This would help stabilise the global exchange rates. By implication, he is calling for a return to the gold standard.
Under the old Bretton Woods system, the US dollar was the global reserve currency, fixed to gold at US$35 per ounce. This is known as the gold standard system, based on which paper currencies were issued. But President Richard Nixon ended this gold standard in 1971 by floating the US dollar outright.
By doing so, the world moved into the fiat currency system – or paper money system. Ever since, the dollar has been printed out of thin air. But the US has also been able to guard the dollar as the world reserve currency. This fiat currency system has given rise to huge debts, an expansion of the banking system and financial markets, and has become the mother of all volatility.
Now China is attempting to challenge this fiat currency system. It is no secret that China would like to float the yuan to become an international reserve currency. But China will not bank on the fiat currency system to do so. It is now pegging its yuan to the US dollar tightly. When the timing is right, China will de-link the yuan from the US dollar and fix it to gold instead. This will have far-reaching implications for the global financial system, creating further dislocations and crisis on a global scale.
Also, China has been entering currency swap contracts with other countries to bypass the US dollar. It has currency swap agreements with Brazil, Russia, Iran, Australia and the UK, to name a few. This scheme is developing fast to supplant the dollar with the yuan. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Prepare-for-a-new-gold-standard-30212197.html
In simple terms, Russia and China want to increase the convertibility of the rouble and the yuan, and to increase the two currencies' role in international trade – and then to propose them as global reserve currencies.
The United States, where the level of sovereign dept is approaching 110 per cent of GDP, will be unable to meet such a challenge.
Next step: kick the chair from under the USA
To that end, China and Russia will need to back their currencies with gold. Last year China held 30.2 per cent of the global gold and currency reserves. It is unclear how much of the Chinese reserves are being held in gold, since the country does not disclose such details.
There is no doubt, however, that China's gold reserves are growing. http://rbth.asia/business/2013/07/25/china_russia_working_to_undermine_dollars_central_role_48177.html
There is also another block of Asian nations working together called ASEAN:
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN /ˈɑːsi.ɑːn/ AH-see-ahn, rarely /ˈɑːzi.ɑːn/ AH-zee-ahn) is a geo-political and economic organisation of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. (Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Wikipedia, viewed 08/22/13)
August 22, 2013 PHNOM PENH — Cambodia's foreign minister says a special meeting between ASEAN ministers and China is "crucial," following meetings with his Chinese counterpart this week...Hor Namhong says ASEAN ministers should consider a closer relationship with China as they head into talks aimed at easing tensions over the South China Sea next week in Beijing.
"The special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers with China is crucial to consolidate friendship and strategic cooperation between ASEAN and China," he said. http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodia-urges-closer-asean-ties-with-china/1734944.html
In the past, ASEAN nations have also suggested the possibility of having their own currency (see Southeast Asian Union To Form).
Eventually we will see a some type of confederation involving Russia, China, India, and many (if not all) of the nations that are part of the Eurasian Union, SCO, and ASEAN.
Now, since it is the biblically-based view of the Continuing Church of God that Europe, and not China nor Russia nor another Asian power that will dominate the world's financial scene in the end time, how is this economic cooperation of prophetic interest?
Well, several reasons.
One is that it shows that China and Russia and others are working to replace the USA dollar, which means that they are not satisfied with the current world financial order. The time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) is coming, which will be a time dominated by the Gentile powers (Luke 21:24).
Another is that it shows that China and Russia and others do understand financial history and realize, historically, what it takes to become the world's reserve currency. The fact that they seem to want to tie their currency to something like gold is not only consistent with world financial history, it is also consistent with biblical prophecies about gold being valuable in the end times (cf. Daniel 11:38,43; Revelation 18:12,16; see also The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy).
Another reason that what the Chinese seem to be proposing is of interest is that the former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, went to China a couple of years ago to work to replace the USA dollar with something that included the Chinese yuan and the EU's euro (see France and China Working Hard to Replace Dollar). The fact that China has been actively working on something to cause this should show every one that they are serious, and that at some point in time, Europe will take further steps to eliminate the US dollar as the world's reserve currency.
And, let us not forget that the USA keeps increasing its debt and inflating its currency through programs like 'quantitative easing' that financial experts should realize is diminishing its value–biblically it is adding 'dross' to its currency, which is not good (Isaiah 1:22,25; Proverbs 25:4a). At some point in time in the future, this will result in disaster for the USA according to biblical prophecy.
What is happening in Asia, and elsewhere, shows that the world is moving away from the US dollar. All the arrangements that the Chinese, Russians, and others are doing are making it easier for the ultimate break from the dollar and the final time of the Gentiles.
The Bible uses terms like kings of the east/sunrise (Revelation 16:12), kings of the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11), and "many kings" associated with of the north (Jeremiah 50:41). More than one nation will be involved in a military block that will be formed.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for a militarily stronger Russia as well as one allied with many other nations in Asia (as well as some in Europe, like the Ukraine).
In 2012, Russia and China (China has certain hesitating limits, but wants Indian involvement) were attempting to get India and Pakistan to be part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) with them (http://rt.com/politics/russia-sco-pakistan-india-lavrov-076/). SCO is "a China backed security forum was set up in Shanghai in 2001. Its members included Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan" (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/china-welcomes-proposed-accession-of-india-in-sco/1002465.html). India itself then decided to push for greater cooperation in SCO, including participating for the first time in military exercises with it (India cozies up to Russia, China. WND, May 26, 2012. http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/india-cozies-up-to-russia-china/ and India to pitch for larger role at SCO summit. India Times, May 27, 2012. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-27/news/31868432_1_sco-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-observer-status).
Notice the following:
Their joint opposition to the presence of Nato and US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq is one motivation for a Russia-China-India strategic partnership (Russia's Military Strategy. The Post, Pakistan - Mar 7, 2008).
The Eighth Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India was held on May 14-15, 2008 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the increasing interaction between Russia, China and India, fast growing, multi ethnic countries with rich history and culture. It was underlined that trilateral interaction was contributing to the shaping of a multi polar, stable and harmonious world, to democratization of international relations and a more just and rational international order (Eighth India, Russia, China Foreign Ministers' meeting held in Russia. May 2008, http://indianembassy.ru/indiachronicle/may08/index.html).
New Delhi still gets 80 percent of its arms from Russia (HOLMES: India should be policy linchpin. Kim Holmes, Washington Times. Thursday, March 5, 2009).
Russia already supplies a lot of military weaponry to nations in Asia, including India, while India is also developing its own (e.g. http://www.voanews.com/content/india-launches-indigenously-buit-aircraft-carrier/1727930.html). Russia and China themselves have a variety of military agreements. The truth is that Russia, China, and India do not believe that the Americans and Europeans (the Americans and Europeans are the ones that make up NATO) truly will ever accept them as equals and hence have began to take more steps leading to cooperation with each other.
Notice also the following from 2013:
Plans for a Eurasian Union are a feeble rear guard action aimed less at NATO and the West and more at the increasing relevance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SCO has China as its sponsor. And, while it is not clear at all that China has designs for control of any kind over Central Asia, it is the power with the most momentum in the region. It has now become cliché to say that Central Asia's markets are flooded with Chinese goods and businessmen. (Peterson A. Central Asia unlikely to become another unstable Middle East. Global Times, August 13, 2013. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/803601.shtml#.Ugqr96z8az4 viewed 08/13/13)
So, China is a sponsor of SCO and according to at least one reporter, the SCO situation is what the Eurasian Union is really all about. Hence, the some see that proposed Eurasian Union is really about building an economic and military confederation.
The Bible shows that a Eurasian military union will happen involving those from the north AND the east and frighten the European King of the North:
…the king of the North… 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Dan 11:40,43-45).
Places like Armenia (called Ararat below) are prophesied to be involved with the Northern power (king of the Medes below):
27 Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. 28 Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, Its governors and all its rulers, All the land of his dominion. 29 And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:27-29)
Armenia decided in December 2014 to join with the Eurasian Union.
The New Testament shows that a group of nations known as the Kings of the East will form:
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).
Note: The literal translation of Revelation 16:12 is "the kings of the sunrise" and thus this would seem to also include China, Japan, Korea, Indochina (including Vietnam), Indonesia, and other lands (since Indonesia is Islamic, it is likely to wish much closer alignment with the Chinese in the end after the King of the North overwhelms the Islamic King of the South per Daniel 11:40-43). India is also likely one of those kings.
Although he had some prophetic and timing misunderstandings, here is something from G.G. Rupert (a Church of God leader in the early 20th century with distant ties to CG7):
The Yellow Peril; or, the Orient versus the Occident
Russia has today one hundred and twenty-nine millions of population. Persistently, carrying out a plan conceived more than forty years ago, she has quietly occupied every position in Asia which would eventually enable her to annex the four hundred millions of China; then the two hundred and eighty millions of India, and finally the eight millions of Persia. ...
Men talk of 'the Yellow Peril.' They do not seem to see that it is through Russia, and through Russia only, that the yellow races might become a peril to the world at large. ...
Russia has a wonderful assimilating power. Having absorbed the tribes of central and northern Asia, and moulded them into Russian legions to carry forward the Russian advance, it does not require a prophet to see a day when with Russo-Chinese armies, Russia would drive the Germans, the French, Italians and other Europeans into the seas and the distant mother countries would be powerless to prevent Russia then in control of 400,000,000 Chinese. ...
Armageddon is rapidly drawing near. ...
Mrs. Helen E. Gardner, who has been six years in touring the world, has spent considerable time in China. She says of this country: "China is going to give us a tremendous surprise. It will be a surprise such as the world has never known." ...
As we view the history of the world for many centuries through the history as given by the pen of inspiration, we will now seek to show the teaching of the Bible concerning the three great divisions of the world in the last days, the movement of the nations, and the issue be- tween them as they shall gather to the great battle of Armageddon.
"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false . prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Rev. 16:13-16.
The events here described take place under the sixth plague. When the vial of the seventh plague is poured out, there comes a voice out of the temple of heaven out of the throne, saying, "It is done." This movement is the greatest and the crowning event of all earth's history. ...
The prophet Jeremiah, in speaking of this power, uses this expression, "For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord." Jer. 1:15.
This expression shows there are many families of kingdoms clustered together, which we understand must include all the territory controlled by the dragon power, which would include all the kings of the East, such as China, India, and any others that might exist in the dragon territory. ...
China. It is the oldest nation in the world, and from the prophet's standpoint it would come from far, or the end of the earth, lying eastward. It is a mighty nation... in the sixteenth chapter of Revelation, Japan, China and India are called the kings of the East. ...
Russia is the land of Magog which was the grandson of Noah. It is an ancient nation. But even a more ancient Nation is to be joined to them, namely, China, Japan and India with others. (Rupert GG. The Yellow Peril; or, the Orient versus the Occident, Third ed. c.1911)
Notice something from the old Plain Truth magazine:
These seven plagues, designed to bring humanity to repentance, are pictured symbolically as seven vials, or small vessels holding liquids. These vials are "poured out" upon a corrupted earth by seven angels. Tragically, mankind as a whole will still refuse to repent of sin!
The sixth of these vials or plagues is described in Revelation 16: 12 and introduces us to Armageddon: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."
The Euphrates River rises in Turkey and flows southeastward for some 1,700 miles through Syria and Iraq, ultimately emptying into the Arabian or Persian Gulf. Across this riverbed will come the "kings of the east" and their armies — a prophesied . . . Eurasian confederacy. This confederacy will have certain geopolitical goals motivating their military offensive. But an unperceived, behind-the-scenes influence will be the ultimate motivation underlying their actions. Notice: Revelation 16:14 reveals that it will be demonic spirits that will influence "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" to gather for battle. These spirits are fallen angels who followed Lucifer (Satan) in his rebellion against God (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-17; Rev. 12:4). They will stir up this world's leaders to prepare for war. (Stump K. Just What Do You Mean - ARMAGEDDON? Plain Truth, June 1985)
Notice something about this from the late Herbert W. Armstrong:
The second woe, with its symbols of horses and horsemen...and is also referred to as an event in the Day OF THE Eternal in Joel 2:4. This refers to a tremendous military power--also to the NORTH--due north! They come with an army of two hundred million! Think of it--an army of two hundred million! World events are now moving rapidly to make possible a Communist Eurasian army of that unbelievable manpower! (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last! 1972 edition. p. 38-39).
It should be noted that all of that Eurasian army does not need to be 'communist' (though most of the lands that Herbert Armstrong referred to were communist when he wrote that).
Notice what Joel 2 indicates some of what that two hundred million man army will do:
2...A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them,Even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them. 4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses;And like swift steeds, so they run. 5 With a noise like chariotsOver mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before them the people writhe in pain; All faces are drained of color. 7 They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, And they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another;Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down. 9 They run to and fro in the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief. (Joel 2:2-9)
That massive army will cause fear and massive destruction!
Russia, with a border that extends east to the Pacific ocean, would appear to be one of the Kings of the East. There will be an end-time confederation of Asian nations with some European involvement that will be part of this eastern confederation. Other biblical prophecies suggests lands like Ukraine will also be involved (see also Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future).
There is a Russian prediction made a over century ago that Russia and China will take over Europe:
…one of the causes which will eventually lead to a regenerated China attacking Europe will be the predominance of males over females in the Celestial Kingdom…for China is bound to make a memorable appearance on the world's stage , and it is indispensable that Russia bind herself in close unison with China until China "overflows her shores and pours down in a torrent on Europe." (DR. MENDELEYEFF'S STRIKING PROPHECY, Dead Chemist Foretold the Attack of Europe by a Regenerated China. WILL FIRST FIGHT INDIA Preponderance of Males the Cause -- Japan, Not an "Originator Power," Can Never Be Great. New York Times, August 11, 1907. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B03E1DF103EE033A25752C1A96E9C946697D6CF viewed 04/21/09 August 11, 1907 ).
There is also an interesting Orthodox prophecy that suggests that the Russians will turn on the City (probably "new Babylon," a term that some Orthodox use for Constantinople and some fewer, Rome):
Orthodox St. Andrew Fool-for-Christ (4th century): I personally believe that some day the City will be invaded by the Blond Nation, whose name begins with the 17th letter of the Alphabet (P). Well, the Blond Nation will enter the City and it will cut down its inhabitants (Tzima Otto, H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. The Verenika Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, p. 112).
The 17th letter of that alphabet, "P" is the Greek letter "rho"--it is an "r" sound. Hence, this might suggest that at least one Orthodox prophet believed that the Russians would turn against the coming Beast power.
The Catholic Priest Kramer also predicted that Russia, along with China, will attack Europe:
Priest Paul Kramer (21st century): Unanimously, in all the prophecies of the saints down through the ages, and in the most secure and certain apparitions of Our Lady, it is revealed that there is going to be a tremendous great World War. It will break out suddenly, from East to West...The Russians already have an army of Special Forces and Arab terrorists that they have trained, along with the Communist Red Chinese. They have a vast army, secret armies, who are waiting for the day when the signal is given...And they will attack Europe. In the morning it will appear that the world is at peace. By the evening, the entire world will be plunged into war. (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady's Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004.THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 05/13/10)
Other parts of the Bible also show that this "Babylonian/European" empire will be destroyed by a northern power.
In the Book of Jeremiah, for example, it is shown that a northern people (which most logically would seem to be Russia) will be part of the force that concerns and then eventually invades, end time Babylon (which will be a European power):
50:41 "Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.
43 "The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…"(Jeremiah 50:41-43).
3 O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal...6 from the far north and all its troops--many people are with you (Ezekiel 38:3,6).
Thus, the European empire (the "daughter of Babylon") is to be destroyed by a northern (apparently Russian led) force. And probably one that cooperates with nations in the East, as well as maybe Iran, and possibly the Ukraine. (While the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 is later, the fact that it refers to the peoples of the FAR NORTH shows that there is a power further north than the final European King of the North of Daniel 11). Notice that a people from the north (Russia in this case) will be part of a confederation of many kings raised up from the ends of the earth. These "ends of the earth" kings would seemingly have to include Asian nations such as India and China, which while not currently part of the Eurasian Union, are already involved with many military and trade agreements with Russia, hence by extension have some connection to the actual Eurasian Union.
Notice also that the Bible shows Babylon tied together with birth pains/pangs to a group from a far country:
1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
2 "Lift up a banner on the high mountain,Raise your voice to them;Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger–Those who rejoice in My exaltation." 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle. 5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven–The LORD and His weapons of indignation,To destroy the whole land. 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand!It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames (Isaiah 13:1-8).
Thus, both the accounts in Jeremiah and Isaiah seem related to the same invaders. This is referring to an end time confederation that has a distance to travel–apparently a type of union of powers from the east including Russia, who is also the major power of the far north.
And this type of confederation is something that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for. This is something he will continue to advocate and work towards. And whether he leads it or not, it will form.
A northern confederation (that appears to be led by Russia and probably includes the far north and far east/Pacific coast portion of Asia) will destroy the European Babylon. The following passage may also apply:
9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior;
None shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:9)
So, although many worry that Russia will be a major military threat to the USA, the reality is that the Bible indicates that it will be the Europeans that will receive a massive attack involving Russia. And perhaps not too many years from now. And this is something that Vladimir Putin advocates and plans to continue to work towards making it happen.
Notice the following:
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed–by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths (Revelation 9:13-18).
Only Asian forces, such as those in China and India and likely many others, could put together a 200,000,000 man army. India, China, and others in Asia will apparently align themselves with a Russia confederation against the European Empire.
Vladimir Putin wants a Eurasian Union to form and it has. Russia has taken steps to try to work with those nations that were once part of the old Soviet Union. But beyond that, Russia has also taken steps to try to improve cooperation with North Korea, China, India, Pakistan, and others.
The fact that the Bible refers to them as "kings" suggests that the final form of this will be more of a confederation than a single kingdom.
The Bible tells of a time with the 'kings of the sunrise" will get together and will ultimately destroy much of the final Babylonian Empire that the Europeans will end up building.
The currently Eurasian Union may well be a prelude to the final cooperation that will involve the Kings of the East.
Note: There are daily news, doctrinal, and prophecy updates at the Church of God News page for those interested in how world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy. And this often includes updates involving Asia at that page.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God's Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? China is the world's most populace nation. China has the world's largest standing military. China is a major economic power and it holds a lot of U.S. debt. China also has problems with corruption, pollution, and its hukou registration system. Will China face civil unrest? Is China prophesied to be wealthy in the end times? Will China takeover the U.S.A. or will it be another power? What does Bible prophecy reveal? This is a YouTube video.
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformattedGood News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them. There is also an Indian directed website, ccog.in, with information in English and some information in Hindi.
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? Here is a machine-translated link to that article in Korean: 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?; here is a link to that article in Mandarin Chinese: 在预言中的韩国:有任何证人吗?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? A YouTube video is available titled Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God's plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English.
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos This is the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God in Tagalog, the primary language of the Philippines.
Back to COGwriter home page
Thiel B. Ph.D. The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy. http://www.cogwriter.com/eurasian-union.htm (c) 2013/2014/2015 0625


text:
Either you believe in global warming or you don't. Why did you interject politics into this story?
- Home
- Local News
- Features
- Obits
- Sports
- Craigslist
- Contact
- Ad Directory
- Weather
- Hot Events
- Listen Live
WYDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Williamsburg, James City & York Counties.
Rising waters, erosion, hurricanes and nor'easters for years have affected Jamestown Island, which played host Thursday to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell as she learned about climate threats across the nation.
The English settlers who first set foot on Jamestown Island in 1607 were standing on a different piece of land than what is seen today. While no maps were drawn of the area until the 1800s, scientists and archaeologists have been able to speculate where the banks of the island may have been.
Over the past 140 years, the eastern tip of the island at Black Point has lost 200 feet. Scientists have been projecting for years the island may be entirely under water by the end of this century.
"It's very evident here, in one of the most significant hot spots in the country, where we are seeing the effects of sea level rise," Jewell said.
Jewell was on hand Thursday for a tour and roundtable discussion about climate change across the country. Her stop in Jamestown was part of an effort to promote the Clean Power Plan proposal, which the U.S. Environmental Protection agency released Monday under President Barack Obama's direction.
The EPA proposal follows steps laid out in Obama's Climate Action Plan, which relies on data released in May in the third U.S. National Climate Assessment.
Part of the assessment focuses on projected sea level rise — due to emissions and temperature and storm increases — which is estimated to increase 1 to 4 feet by 2100 in a worst-case scenario. The report suggests decision makers use a wider range – 8 inches to more than 6.5 feet — for planning.
The report shows the coast of Virginia as being vulnerable to sea level rise. Additionally, the Union of Concerned Scientists last month released a report on the 30 most threatened resources in the nation; in Virginia, Jamestown, Fort Monroe and Wallops Flight Facility made the list.
In the danger zone is Jamestown Island, most of which is less than 5 feet above sea level, according to the National Park Service.
The Clean Power Plan calls for a 30 percent reduction from the 2005 levels of carbon emissions in the nation's power sector.
"Beyond benefiting public health and the economy, these cuts in carbon pollution will greatly benefit the parks, refuges, other public lands and cultural resources entrusted to the Department of the Interior on behalf of all Americans," said Jewell in a news release. "Through sound science and collaboration, we need to examine how we can help cultural and natural resources like those on Jamestown Island and in the larger Chesapeake Bay region adapt to climate change and become more resilient to its impacts."
Thursday's roundtable called together experts from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, the National Park Service, the Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Geological Survey, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Virginia Beach Public Works, among others, to discuss threatened areas and how to move forward while protecting natural, cultural and archaeological resources.
"We need your expertise. We've got a lot of work ahead of us," Jewell said to the panelists. "I'm here mainly to listen; I'm not here mainly to talk."
Participants in the 13-member roundtable took turns explaining their work, obstacles and needs. Many of the experts said providing public education and working without comprehensive data were two of the biggest obstacles; a need for funding was also a common thread.
"I know it would be pretty nice to run to the federal piggy bank … but I've noticed there's not a lot in the federal piggy bank," Jewell said. "When it comes to day-to-day funding for intervention, it's hard to make a case for."
In situations where communities are ravaged by devastation-causing storms, as in New Orleans, Congress cuts a check, Jewell said.
Virginia Beach has been facing issues with inland flooding, which residents do not understand, said Mike Mundy, who was representing the City of Virginia Beach's public works department. Getting 3 to 5 inches of rain in a 24-hour period causes problems for the city.
While there is no question the city needs funding, Mundy said educating people about the causes of flooding and how to be prepared would be helpful. With that, he said helping citizens find money to make proactive home improvements, such as lifting houses, would be beneficial.
Locally, Jamestown is suffering similar issues.
"I sit here worried," said Colonial National Historical Park Superintendent Dan Smith. "I came here the year after [Hurricane] Isabel. I saw the effects. … I'm a land manager telling you this is going on."
Some of the largest issues Smith has had to deal with because of storm damage and erosion are along the parkway. Hurricane Irene in 2011 caused damage on the isthmus bridge from Powhatan Creek to Jamestown Island and on the College Creek and Mill Creek bridges. Erosion along the parkway in Yorktown has resulted in a multi-year, approximately $15 million project to stabilize the shoreline. On Jamestown Island's eastern end, Black Point is continuing to erode.
"It's changing all the time now," Smith said.
There is much collaboration between the park service and Preservation Virginia, which owns 22.5 acres of the island where the original James Fort was located, Smith said. Preservation Virginia representatives did not have a seat at the roundtable Thursday.
That James Fort portion of the island is about 11 feet above sea level, so it is higher than the areas most threatened by sea level rise. Despite its elevation, Hurricane Isabel caused the water to rise to 9 feet, which did pose a threat to the area, Smith said.
The encroaching saltwater causes scientists and archaeologists bigger problems when excavating and conserving artifacts, Jewell said. "Some of the artifacts won't be recovered the way they could have been."
Despite that, work has to be triaged. Depending on the importance of a site, the artifacts there are triaged based on what is hopeless and what is worth investing resources, Jewell said.
Either you believe in global warming or you don't. Why did you interject politics into this story?
Data support the fact that the sea is rising and we're not talking about the predictable ebb/flow of barrier island habitats or catastrophic events like hurricanes creating/destroying areas like Willoughby Spit.
Historic readings from the Sewell's Point buoys and others in SC since 1927, the death of ancient forests which used to be much higher above water (eg Eastern Shore) fact that the US Navy docks were constructed with piping underneath to allow for routine maintenance which is now only possible at low tide, etc.
Granted, Norfolk and West Point have been sinking somewhat as well, exacerbating the problem, but when the US Navy starts taking steps to deal with rising water levels, I don't care what you call it or what is causing it, I'd take that for what it is: a statement by those responsible for our national defense that rising sea levels are a real and significant threat.
Sewell's Point Data here:
Where are the Republicans? Why no pickets telling us it is a big farce by the left? Oh could it be because climate change is going to affect their pockets now?
In the 1970's it was the next ice age, then it was gloabla warming, once the emails were found out to a hoax and the data was falsified they started calling it climate change, now it is climate interuption. THERE IS NO GLOBAL WARMING!!! If you take a reading of the temperature in a grove of trees it is cooler than on top of a building in a new devolopment. That is just common sense. Land is made and taken away all the time. Just look at Willoughby Spit in Norfolk that wasn't there until a hurricane made it. Oh and I forgot that big SUV that the dinosaurs used it why they went extinct.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Section Information
Section Description Provided by Instructor
In the wake of the financial crisis, executive compensation and the possibility that top managers' incentives contributed to the upheaval has become the subject of intense scrutiny from legislators, regulators, and the press. This course will explore the forces shaping executive pay at large corporations, and whether those forces are adequate to ensure that compensation design maximizes shareholder and social welfare.
We will begin from a theoretical perspective, surveying recent academic assessments of the divided interests of the corporate directors who bargain with executives over compensation. We will then consider the economic incentives associated with common pay arrangements, including stock options, deferred compensation and so-called "golden parachutes." Next, we'll examine existing regulation of executive pay and several proposed new approaches, including recent attempts to restrict compensation at firms that received federal assistance and their observed and potential consequences on bargains between directors and executives.
Finally, we will consider whether additional regulation is warranted, giving special attention to the particular case of compensation at financial institutions. We will be joined in our work by guest speakers who are involved in the executive compensation debate, including practitioners and government officials.
Because we will cover subject matter touching on securities regulation and corporate law, the seminar may be of particular interest to students contemplating practice in those fields. During the course of the semester, students will be required to submit three memoranda providing critical analysis of the assigned readings in advance of our weekly meetings. In addition, students will be required to submit, at their election, either (1) a longer paper developing a broader hypothesis about the issues raised by our discussions, or (2) a series of comments, based on our discussions and work together, for federal regulators developing the new executive compensation and corporate governance rules required by the Dodd-Frank Act.
Fall 2012
M 4:20 –6:10 p.m.
Method of Evaluation
J.D. Writing Credit
Course Limitations
Instructor Pre-requisites
Instructor Co-requisites
Recommended Courses
Other Limitations


text:
Property owners in Florida get worse news by Mitch E. Perry
With the chance of more hurricanes hitting the sunshine state, some of the biggest insurance agents in the country are fleeing from doing business in Florida, or charging a lot more for their coverage.
On Friday, Allstate, the stateââ¬â¢s 2nd largest insurer said it would drop 174,000 policies statewide. A spokeswoman for the company said the transition will take a year, and will NOT start until hurricane season is over.
And State Farm announced it was adding increases of more than 70% for the average homeowner. They also announced that it was canceling about 1500 policies held by condominium complexes.
Geoff Grady is President and CEO of the Florida Insurance Agents Association. He says these increases are an indication of how troubled the market is (roll tape#1 o.q.â�to keep on comingâ�)
State Farm also said that it will drop wind coverage for about 39,000 customers in certain coastal parts of the state.
During the Legislative Session that ended earlier this month, state lawmakers approved $715 million in insurance rate relief to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state run insurer of last resort.
Geoff Grady of the Florida Insurance Agents Association says the bailout shows that the state is getting involved with insurance at a much quicker rate than anybody could imagine. But he thinks that the legislature punted when they needed to come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with the growing home insurance crises, fed by the storms of the past 2 years (roll tape#2 o.q.â�interest on that moneyâ�)
Nationwide Insurance announced 2 days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans last year that, starting in March of this year, it would not renew approximately 35,000 homeowners and 4800 mobile home policies ââ¬â as well as approximately 12,000 commercial policies like condominiums, apartments,and rental properties.
But for some property owners, the realization that their insurance company is leaving is just hitting them now.
Joe Case is a spokesman for Nationwide. He acknowledged that some property owners may just be getting news of their policies being dropped (roll tape#1 o.q.â�alternative coverageâ�)
the Florida Association of Insurance Agents is reportadley is working on one of the proposals for a new state insurance program. One possibility would be for a state windstorm program to provide coverage for the most severe Category 3, 4 and 5 hurricanes, which could help insurers because they would not face the unpredictability of being wiped out by catastrophic storms.
Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have floated a different approach in which a state insurance program would cover most of the first $100,000 in damages that a property sustains in a hurricane.comments powered by Disqus


text:
Belk & Co. Sterling Silver Classic Wedding Band Hoop Earrings
$90.00 Original Price $150.00
Savings: $60.00 (40%)
There's a reason we call it a classic. This indispensable wedding band hoop is never out of style. These Italian crafted hoops feature softly rolled edges with a high polish surface inside and out.
- Snap bar closure
- 0.875-in. diameter; 0.1875-in. wide
- Clean with a soft bristle brush and warm soapy water; use silver polishing cloth on silver items
- Imported
Shipping & Returns
Shipping your purchase is easy on belk.com. Depending on the destination of your package, you can expect it to arrive within 4-7 business days. Shipping Information
Returns are easy on belk.com. Easy returns


text:
What is ONboard™?
The McGraw-Hill ONboard™ Series for Advanced Placement* is an online, interactive program designed to help incoming AP students build the background knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their upcoming AP coursework and beyond. Each product has been created with a team of experienced AP Teachers & Experts, and features:
- Videos, Animations, & Interactivities to address different learning styles and keep students engaged.
- Check Points & Quizzes that offer immediate feedback to gauge student understanding.
- A Pre-Test and Comprehensive Final Assessment provide robust reporting that will show growth and help identify knowledge gaps.


text:
Reviewed By Philip K (Yuma, AZ) Reviewed for a 1991 Toyota Pickup —2/11/2015 10:02 PM
First off, there was everything in the box that was needed for a complete install. Second, the quality was light years ahead of stock stabilizer. Third, the price was the best you can find anywhere. Super , super stuff. Keep up the good work.


text:
Mountain Top Youth Soccer: Soccerplex
Thursday, August 15
MYSA Announces Plans to Construct New SoccerPlex Concession
In 2002, Mountain Top Youth Soccer Association acquired their new 50-acre site on Church Road. Over the next 7 years, they held fundraisers, applied for grants, interviewed contractors, and completed construction of four full-size soccer fields, complete with irrigation, along with a 200 car parking area, and a pair of on-site stormwater management basins.
Now MYSA plans to put the finishing touches on the SoccerPlex with a brand new Concession Building. Funded in part by the F.M. Kirby Foundation, the new building will house vehicles and equipment (including goals, nets, balls, corner flags, and all the other paraphernalia needed to run a 700+ member soccer club) along with a picnic pavillion and a take-out food service for families and players attending games and tournaments at the venue.
Architectural plans for the new building were completed last month, and bids for the new construction will be sought between now and early September. Construction is expected to begin the Spring of 2014.
The MYSA SoccerPlex features some of the finest soccer fields in Luzerne County, and was made possible by grants from DCNR, DEP, Luzerne County, and a host of local sponsors like Burger King, PNC Bank, Ziegler Orthodontics, Lewith & Freeman, Pennstar Bank, Whitewater Challengers, First Federal Bank, the Luzerne Foundation, US Soccer Foundation, Century 21, Welcome Wagon, Mountain Top Rotary, MacDonald Foundation, Pepsico, A&R Building Supply, and countless Mountain Top families and individuals. MYSA extends a hearty thank you to all who have helped move this project forward over the past decade.


text:
Approximate end time 9:55pm
Param VirCave of Luminous Mind c20'
BBC commission: world premiere
SibeliusViolin Concerto in D minor 33'
BantockCeltic Symphony 20'
Elgar'Enigma' Variations 28'
Lisa Batiashvili violin
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo conductor
Dedicated to the late Jonathan Harvey, Param Vir's Cave of Luminous Mind is inspired by the mindfulness of Tibetan Buddhism and the story of Buddhist master Milarepa's penitential progress on the Diamond Path.
Chief Conductor and Elgar Medalwinner Sakari Oramo directs the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the world premiere of Vir's work, Elgar's 'Enigma' Variations and Granville Bantock's 1940 Celtic Symphony for strings and six harps.
Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili plays Sibelius's exhilarating Violin Concerto, a work she recorded in 2008 to rave reviews.


text:
'Real Housewives ATL' preview: NeNe and Phaedra face the firing squad
It's about time we get "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" around a table together.
New housewife Cynthia Bailey is having a get-together and it's the first time the gals are seeing NeNe Leakes' "alterations" and the event gives them a chance to grill the other new housewife, Phaedra Parks.
We have to say that Phaedra is fulfilling her "housewives" duty and fueling some really good drama this season so far. First, we have all the chatter on her ex-convict husband and now the focus is on her pregnancy.
Watch the preview clip:
What's your take on Phaedra so far? Is she on the up and up? And how do you like NeNe's new nose?
Follow Zap2it and TheRealJethro on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest celebrity news and buzz.
Photo/ Video credit: Bravo
Photo/ Video credit: Bravo


text:
To Akira Kurosawa, who would have turned 100 on March 23
Dear Mr. Kurosawa,
I'm one of those people who can't name their favorite movie--there are too many and they all touch me in a different way. But I can name my favorite director: You.
You would have turned 100 this month. And I can say two of my favorite films are Dersu Uzala and The Seven Samurai. Both films are very different from each other; both represent very different periods of your career; and both are supreme achievements in film as a humanistic artform.
Someone once told me they were surprised I liked Kurosawa because "he's a little cold". You were, by all accounts, a moody and often unhappy man. But if anything, your films reveal that you deeply understood the human heart. One recurring theme in your films is an affection for society's lone oddball or wily bands of misfits; another is that things are not what they appear to be. (Rashoman, Ikiru). And between these two themes lies your humanity.
Often your more intimate moments come wrapped within the formidable mastery of filmmaking--the tense buildup of High and Low, the steady composition of The Seven Samurai's battle sequences, the force of nature in Dersu Uzala, the swirl of pageantry in Ran. Then suddenly we realize we're watching a study of friendship or a man questioning his mortality. And the subtext is about honor, integrity, fate, loss. It's not thrown about as cliches or pathos; it just sits there quietly at the heart of the film. And it's much more powerful since we weren't really expecting it given all the other cinematic tricks you were pulling off at the same time.
You were smart, deeply human, and a brilliant filmmaker--and it's not often you get all these qualities in one package. Quentin Tarantino, for example, is smart and (arguably) brilliant, but more cynical than humanistic. You knew enough to borrow from Shakespeare (Ran, Throne of Blood) and by now it's widely known you were also worth borrowing from: The Seven Samurai inspired The Magnificent Seven. Yojimbo inspired the Spaghetti westerns. And The Hidden Fortress inspired Star Wars.
I know it's a pointless fantasy, but sometimes I'll watch a film like Avatar and wonder what it would have been like in your hands. Because something this visually stunning deserved a script to match. I was blown away by Avatar's beauty and willingly overlooked the story's clichés; but with you, the story was never less than depth and style. And that was the one tiny—yet crucial—Kurosawa element that was ultimately lacking.
Hi Amy, thanks for this tribute to Mr Kurosawa. I admired this director, in my opinion the best movies were Madadayo and Dreams. James Cameron is far from reaching Akira's level. I cannot even compare Avatar to Kuroswa's movies... casinos arnaques


text:
Ötzi the iceman did not die after an Alpine fall, or losing his way - he was shot in the back with an arrow.
A chest X-ray and a CT scan have finally solved the mystery of how Ötzi died about 5300 years ago, says Paul Gostner, one of a team of specialists studying the mummy.
The images show a flint arrowhead buried deep in Ötzi's left shoulder, where it would have hit several large blood vessels. "If he was running he would be bleeding a lot. He probably died from loss of blood," says Gostner, head of radiology at Bolzano General Hospital in South Tyrol, Italy, where the scan was carried out.
The cause of Ötzi's death has been a matter of intense speculation since his mummified body was discovered in a Tyrolean glacier in 1991. The man, who was between 40 and 45 years old, was warmly dressed and was well equipped for travelling high in the Alps.
Yet until now the best explanation for Ötzi's death was that he was caught out by the weather and died from hypothermia.
Hard evidence
In April, Gostner examined Ötzi in a CT scanner but found no sign of any foreign object in the body. Then three weeks ago, Ötzi was given a chest X-ray which showed the distinctive outline of the arrowhead. "So we went back to the CT images and looked again. Then we found it," says Gostner. "The image shows the exact shape of an arrowhead and it has the consistency of stone."
He and his colleague, pathologist Eduard Egarter, then looked for the point at which the arrow hit Ötzi. They found a two-centimetre cut in the skin that matched the trajectory of the arrow.
Over the past decade, specialists have investigated just about every aspect of Ötzi's body, from his tattoos to his stomach contents. Before he was moved to his own museum in Bolzano, Ötzi was scrutinised by Konrad Spindler and a team of experts at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.
Those tests included X-rays and CT scans, but no one spotted the arrow. "Everyone is very surprised that such an artefact could remain hidden for 10 years," Spindler told New Scientist.
The arrowhead almost certainly eluded them because it lies between the shoulder bone and the ribs and would show only on a scan of Ötzi's side. Spindler's team scanned the body only from the front and back. "There's a very small window through which to see it from the outside," he says.
So who killed Ötzi? "It's impossible to say if he was killed by mistake or in a war or for some other reason," says Gostner. "We can only say it wasn't suicide."
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.


text:
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) The University of Northern Iowa will no longer offer degree programs in French, German and numerous other subjects ranging from geology to microbiology under a budget-cutting plan approved Wednesday that will shrink the choices available to students.
Brushing aside criticism from faculty leaders locally and nationally, the Iowa Board of Regents voted 9-0 to terminate 22 undergraduate majors, 20 minors and 16 graduate programs offered at the campus in Cedar Falls. The regents suspended admissions to another eight programs while they undergo restructuring, rounding out a plan that touches about one-fourth of all programs and easily amounts to the deepest cuts in school history.
University officials say they targeted programs for closure that had low enrollment and completion rates, focusing on those with 10 or fewer graduates per year. They say the cuts will eliminate an $800,000 deficit that academic programs face next year and pave the way for future growth of high-demand programs.
School president Ben Allen urged the regents to take quick action during their meeting in Iowa City, saying further discussion of the cuts would be fruitless.
"These are low-enrolled programs. The impact is obviously significant for those individuals in the programs, but from the university's perspective, it doesn't have much impact," he said.
Regent Bob Downer said he was concerned the cuts will limit class options for non-majors, and suggested school officials could ease concerns by sharing more information about classes that will still be available.
The cuts will be felt across campus. Figures given to the regents show more than 400 students were enrolled in the affected programs as of last fall.
The Faculty Senate and a union representing faculty have both accused the administration of rushing harmful cuts without enough consideration and input. The cuts were released publicly two weeks ago, and university officials were revising the list up until hours before Wednesday's meeting.
Provost Gloria Gibson could not tell the regents definitively how many majors were being cut. She said "around 19 or 20, maybe a few more." Nonetheless, Allen insisted the process was "carefully done."
Even before the plan was released, the faculty issued a vote of no-confidence in Allen and Gibson. The American Association of University Professors launched an inquiry last week that could lead to a largely symbolic censure of the school, saying the administration appears to be violating faculty rights with program eliminations and buyouts.
Allen told AAUP in a letter Wednesday that the school was honoring the principles of academic freedom and the terms of its collective bargaining contract with professors, which calls for layoffs to be a last resort.
He and Gibson said the administration listened to feedback and pared back the initial list of closures. The school spared the bachelor's of science degree in physics at the last minute after what Gibson called a nationwide groundswell of support for the program, as well as a master's program in technology. Some were moved from the closure list to restructuring, a process that will downsize and change the curriculum for the particular programs.
About 30 tenured faculty members whose programs have been targeted have been offered voluntary buyouts, which will pay them one year's salary and a cash payment of $20,000 or more to buy health insurance for 18 months. Faculty have until April 30 to decide, under a one-week extension approved Wednesday by the Board of Regents.
Professors and instructors without tenure will be let go under the plan, but Gibson declined to say how many. She said a number of others have notified the school of their plans to enter a two-year phased retirement.
Gibson said the university would allow students enrolled in the programs to finish and that plans are being developed to make sure there are teachers for them.
She said many of the programs being closed were tracks within larger programs that few students followed. For instance, she said the microbiology emphasis would be closed but the more popular biology major would remain intact. Geology will be closed, but students can study similar content in the earth sciences program.
The university is working to reassure students that an array of academic offerings will still be available, Gibson said.
"Our message to students is that UNI is a strong university," she said. "It's still a place where we pride ourselves especially in the undergraduate experience for students."
Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather
Most Popular


text:
Do you need an instant answer to an admission question? Well, now we can provide you with the ability to chat with an admission representative right from your computer! Simply send an instant message via America Online (AOL) Instant MessengerTM and have a real-time, one-to-one conversation with a Monmouth University graduate admission representative. You will have the ability to check on the status of your application, ask questions about your academic program, or simply say hello. We've made helping you more convenient.
Each weekday, Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, sign on to AOL Instant MessengerTM and send a message to one of our knowledgeable admission representatives via the screen name MONMOUTHREP1. International students who have questions about an F-1 Transfer visa can send a message to our international student advisor at MONMOUTHADVISORF1.
Download AOL Instant MessengerTM


text:
"Nice and light weight, used them as flag football jerseys for 4 year olds. Coach Wilson - Savannah Flames" (E6121)
"I have been using this shirt for my teams for three seasons. They are showing now real signs of wear. Great price and quality." (E7822)
"Great value, fit and appearance!
David Werman" (E2258)
Fan Mats University of Tennessee Fan Brand [E47247]