HOLIDAY NEWS
In 220 AD, the Later Eastern Han Dynasty extended sections of the Great Wall of China along the Mongolian border.
This made it harder for the Huns to attack into China, so they turned westward, attacking and displacing tribes throughout Central Asia.
These tribes migrated further west, overrunning the western borders of the Roman Empire:
- Visigoths,
- Ostrogoths,
- Franks,
- Anglos,
- Saxons,
- Alemanni,
- Thuringians,
- Rugians,
- Jutes,
- Picts,
- Burgundians,
- Lombards,
- Alans, and
- Vandals.
Rome had to withdraw its Legions from other areas of the Empire, such as Britain, in order to place them along the Roman border.
This left Britain, which had been a Roman territory since the time of Julius Caesar, unprotected.
Marauding bands and lawless mobs raided Britain’s unprotected Roman settlements and carried away thousands to sell into slavery in Ireland.
Ireland was ruled by the bloodthirsty, superstitious pagan Druids.
Thomas Cahill wrote in How the Irish Saved Civilization (Random House, 1995):
“Romans, in their first encounters with these exposed, insane warriors, were shocked and frightened … They were howling and, it seemed, possessed by demons, so outrageous was their strength … featuring all the terrors of hell itself.”
The Druids, from whom Halloween originated, believed that the trees and hills were inhabited by good and evil spirits which constantly needed to be appeased.
Cahill continued:
“(Druids) sacrificed prisoners of war to the war gods and newborns to the harvest gods.
Believing that the human head was the seat of the soul, they displayed proudly the heads of their enemies in their temples and on their palisades; they even hung them from their belts as ornaments, used them as footballs in victory celebrations, and were fond of employing skull tops as ceremonial drinking bowls.
They also sculpted heads – both shrunken, decapitated heads.”
Patrick’s British name at birth was Sucat, but his Latin name was “Patricius,” meaning “Nobleman.”
Around 405 A.D., at the age of 16 years old, while working on his father’s farm near the sea, 50 currachs (longboats) filled with raiders weaved their way toward the shore.
Mary Cagney, author of the article “Patrick The Saint” (Christian History, Issue 60), wrote:
“With no Roman army to protect them (Roman legions had long since deserted Britain to protect Rome from barbarian invasions), Patricius and his town were unprepared for attack.
The Irish warriors, wearing helmets and armed with spears, descended on the pebble beach.
The braying war horns struck terror into Patricius’ heart, and he started to run toward town.
The warriors quickly demolished the village, and as Patricius darted among the burning houses and screaming women, he was caught.
The barbarians dragged him aboard a boat bound for the east coast of Ireland.”
For six years Patrick herded animals for a Druid chieftain. He later wrote in his life’s story, called The Confession of Saint Patrick:
“But after I came to Ireland — every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed — the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened.
And my spirit was moved so that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many in the night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountains; and I used to get up for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain …
… There the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God who … comforted me as would a father his son.”
Then Patrick had a dream, as he wrote:
“One night I heard in my sleep a voice saying to me:
`It is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country.’ And again … a voice saying to me: `See, your ship is ready.’
And it was not near, but at a distance of perhaps two hundred miles … Then I took to flight … I went in the strength of God who directed my way … until I came to that ship.”
Patrick eventually made his way back to Britain and was reunited with what was left of his family.
Then, when he was about 40 years old, he had another dream calling him back to Ireland as a missionary.
In his Confession, Patrick wrote:
“In the depth of the night, I saw a man named Victoricus coming as if from Ireland, with innumerable letters, and he gave me one and while I was reading I thought I heard the voice of those near the western sea call out:
‘Please, holy boy, come and walk among us again.’
Their cry pierced my very heart, and I could read no more, and so I awoke.”
Patrick returned to Ireland.
He confronted the Druids, converted chieftains, and used the three-leaf clover to teach the Trinity.
The Druids tried to ambush and kill Patrick nearly a dozen times:
“Daily I expect murder, fraud or captivity, but I fear none of these things because of the promises of Heaven …
The merciful God often freed me from slavery and from twelve dangers in which my life was at stake-not to mention numerous plots …
… God is my witness, who knows all things even before they come to pass, as He used to forewarn even me … of many things by a divine message …
… I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from the unbelievers …
I am prepared to give even my life without hesitation and most gladly for His name, and it is there that I wish to spend it until I die.”
Encyclopedia Britannica stated that Patrick challenged:
“royal authority by lighting the Paschal fire on the hill Slane on the night of Easter Eve.
It chanced to be the occasion of a pagan festival at Tara, during which no fire might be kindled until the royal fire had been lit.”
As Patrick’s fire on the Hill of Slane illuminated the countryside, King Loigaire (King Leary) is said to have exclaimed:
“If we do not extinguish this flame it will sweep over all Ireland.”
Mary Cagney, in “Patrick the Saint” (Christianity Today, Issue 60), wrote:
“Predictably, Patrick faced the most opposition from the Druids, who practiced magic … and advised Irish kings.
Biographies of the saint are replete with stories of Druids who ‘wished to kill holy Patrick’ …
One biographer from the late 600’s, Muirchu’, described Patrick challenging Druids to contests at Tara …
… The custom was that whoever lit a fire before the king on that night of the year (Easter’s eve) would be put to death.
Patrick lit the paschal fire before the king on the Hill of Slane.
The people saw Patrick’s fire throughout the plain, and the king ordered 27 chariots to go and seize Patrick …
Seeing that the impious heathen were about to attack him, Patrick rose and said clearly and loudly,
‘May God come up to scatter his enemies and may those who hate him flee from his face.’
By this disaster, caused by Patrick’s curse in the king’s presence because of the king’s order, seven times seven men fell …
And the king driven by fear, came and bent his knees before the holy man.'”
Many miraculous acts were attributed to Patrick.
The Life and Acts of Saint Patrick was compiled by a 12th century Cistercian Monk of Furnes named Jocelin.
A popular translation was done by Edmund L. Swift, Esq., Dublin, in 1809, with elucidations of David Rothe, Bishop of Ossory.
The Life and Acts of Saint Patrick contains chapters such as:
- Chapter 68: Of his Journey, & of his manifold Miracles;
- Chapter 69: The Sick Man cured;
- Chapter 71 The Dead are raised up; the King & the People are converted;
- Chapter 78: Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead;
- Chapter 80: The King Echu is raised from Death;
- Chapter 81: A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death;
- Chapter 82: Of Another Man who was Buried & Raised Again;
- Chapter 83: Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine & restored unto Life;
- Chapter 145: Of a Woman who was raised from Death;
- Chapter 146: The Testimony of One who was revived from Death;
- Chapter 172: He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island;
- Chapter 178: The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick freed from Demons;
- Chapter 186: Of the Sick whom he healed, & the Dead whom he raised; & of his Disciples who recorded his Acts.
In his thirty years of ministry, Saint Patrick is credited with baptizing 120,000 people and founding 300 churches.
Despite his great achievements, Patrick struggled with an inferiority complex.
In his Confession, Patrick wrote:
“I had long had it in mind to write, but up to now I have hesitated. I was afraid lest I should fall under the judgment of men’s tongues because I am not as well read as others …
As a youth, nay, almost as a boy not able to speak, I was taken captive … Hence to-day I blush and fear exceedingly to reveal my lack of education; for I am unable to tell my story to those versed in the art of concise writing — in such a way, I mean, as my spirit and mind long to do, and so that the sense of my words expresses what I feel.”
In his letter to Coroticus, he wrote:
“I, Patrick, a sinner, very badly educated.”
Coroticus was a tyrant king in Britain who carried off some of Patrick’s converts into slavery.
“Ravenous wolves have gulped down the Lord’s own flock which was flourishing in Ireland, and the whole church cries out and laments for its sons and daughters.”
Patrick was one of the first major religious leaders to speak out strongly against slavery, having himself been a victim.
He considered one of the first “abolitionists,” as condemned the deeds of Coroticus, calling them “wicked, so horrible, so unutterable,” and exhorted him to “repent and free the converts.”
When the Irish converted to Christianity, they abandoned their pagan Druid laws, which Patrick replaced with Bible-based Latin-Irish laws.
Leslie Hardinge wrote in The Celtic Church in Britain (Random House, 1995):
“Wherever Patrick went and established a church, he left an old Celtic law book, Liber ex Lege Moisi (Book of the Law of Moses) along with the books of the Gospel.”
This became called the “Senchus Mor” or “Code of Patrick.”
On MARCH 17, around 461 AD, Saint Patrick died.
The Liber Hymnorum, a collection of hymns from ancient manuscripts in Dublin, gives the account:
“Saint Patrick sang this when an ambush was laid against his coming by King Loegaire, that he might not go to Tara to sow the faith.
And then it appeared before those lying in ambush that they (Saint Patrick and his monks) were wild deer with a fawn following them.”
The song is called the Lorica, which means Shield or Breastplate, also referred to as The Deer’s Cry.
The Breastplate of Saint Patrick (Translation by Cecil Frances Alexander):
“I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, the One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on the cross for my salvation.
His bursting from the spiced tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to harken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poison’d shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation;
Salvation is of Christ the Lord!”
Following Saint Patrick’s example were many courageous Irish missionaries.
St. Brigid of Kildare (451-525) founded numerous monasteries across Ireland.
Irish missionaries, such as Columba (521-597) and Columbanus (543-615), sailed back to Britain and Europe, where they evangelized the heathen hordes which had overrun the Roman Empire.
Irish missionary, St. Brendan (484-577), sailed west and is thought to have discovered North America.
The Code of Patrick was taken by missionaries to Britain where it laid the foundation for English Common Law, later codified by Alfred the Great (847-899).
As American law is based on English Common Law, one is struck with the thought that Saint Patrick may have even influenced the legal system in the United States.
Patrick’s influence was profound that over 1500 years later, there is still a date on the calendar to remember him.
The World Book Encyclopedia (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957, p. 6142) stated of Saint Patrick:
“He found Ireland all heathen and left it all Christian.”
In 597, St. Augustine of Canterbury arrived in England and baptized King Ethelberht and thousands of his subjects.
Bishops of the Celtic Christian tradition did not submit till the Synod of Whitby Abbey in 664, where King Oswy of Northumbria agreed to come under the authority of the Catholic Church.
At this time, Patrick was bestowed the title of Saint.
When the Reformation came to England with Henry VIII, Ireland remained Catholic.
It was not until after the Battle of Kinsale, 1601, that the British began transplanting 200,000 Presbyterian Lowland Scots into Northern Ireland, creating a Scots-Irish population.
When England’s King Charles I tried to force these Presbyterians to comply with the Church of England in the 1630s, many fled to the colonies in America.
In 1641, an Irish Rebellion began the Irish Confederate War, after which thousands more fled to America.
Oliver Cromwell invaded in the 1650s, causing more Irish Catholics to flee, with some 300,000 being sold into slavery in the English colonies of Virginia and New England, and in the Caribbean plantations of Antigua, Montserrat, Jamaica, and Barbados.
Historian Will Durant wrote in The Story of Civilization:
“The Irish scene was one of the most shameful in history.”
A Scottish famine in the 1690s brought thousands more Scots to Ireland, followed by another wave of Scots-Irish sailing to America.
In 1703, Queen Anne’s Test Act required all office-holders to subscribe to Anglican doctrine, and stripped other faiths of the right to worship, preach, or preform marriages.
It is estimated that in the 1700s, a half million Irish and Scots-Irish came to America.
Another enormous wave of immigration occurred as a result of the Great Irish Potato Famine, 1845-1849.
Millions of Irish died in Ireland and millions immigrated, causing the Catholic population in America to increase to 20 percent.
33 million Americans have Irish ancestry, composing about 11 percent of the U.S. population, second only to those with German ancestry, 15 percent.
Twenty-two U.S. Presidents have some Irish ancestry.
Communities across America have Saint Patrick’s Day Parades, where all, both Protestants and Catholics, join together in celebrating St. Patrick and Irish heritage.
In his Confession, Saint Patrick wrote:
“Patrick the sinner, an unlearned man to be sure.
None should ever say that it was my ignorance that accomplished any small thing, it was the gift of God.”
FUN ST. PADDY’S DAY STORY
Is the ‘Luck of the Irish’ is Real? Residents of Ireland Report More Good Fortune and Lucky Charms
A new poll showed the ‘luck of the Irish’ may be a real thing—with residents of Ireland reporting a greater prevalence of good fortune.
The survey revealed that those living on the Emerald Isle may actually experience more luck—tallying an average of 40 fortunate moments every year, nearly 10 percent more than people in the rest of the UK.
Irish folks are also more likely to describe themselves as lucky, with nearly half (49%) believing they’re blessed, compared to 40 percent elsewhere.
The poll also found 66% of UK adults believe they are due a bit of good luck in their lives.
Overall, one in four (25%) admitted they don’t truly know the meaning of luck—and think it’s too hard to define.
A spokesperson for Lottoland.co.uk, which commissioned the lucky-in-life quiz to celebrate its Irish Lotto draw this St Patrick’s Day, admitted that luck is ‘a strange concept.’
“Most people question whether it really exists (but) some people certainly seem luckier than others—something our lotto winners would attest to.”
Respondents in the survey were asked if they considered anything to be their lucky charm—whether it was wearing lucky socks or finding a four-leaf clover.
To increase their chances of good fortune, 23% of UK adults say they’ve embraced a lucky charm, but a full 38% of Irish respondents have.
Lucky numbers, special bracelets, and coins are popular on both sides of the Irish sea—but, interestingly, the Celtic people were actually less likely to opt for a four-leaf clover.
A quarter of respondents consider good health something to be thankful for, as it can often be decided by luck.
On the other side of the coin, a belief in bad luck is held by Irish adults at a 17% higher rate than people from the UK (67% compared to 50%).
Furthermore, 57 percent of those polled from the Republic of Ireland have experienced beginner’s luck—doing something well on their first try—compared to only 36 percent of people in England, Wales, Scotland, according to the Onepoll data.
“The question is, do you have to be born in Ireland to enjoy that luck, or can you simply move to Dublin or Galway, and enjoy a boost to your fortunes,” quipped the Lottoland spokesperson.
TOP 10 LUCKY CHARMS IN IRELAND:
- Lucky number
2. Bracelet
3. Coins
4. Ring
5. Four leaf clover
6. Ladybugs
7. Socks
8. Horseshoe
9. Rainbow
10. Underwear
WORLD NEWS
Reset This! Dutch Elections See Tractor Protest Party Trounce Globalist Govt and EU Green Agenda
The upstart populist pro-farmer party FarmerCitizenMovement (BBB) shook the foundations of politics in the Netherlands overnight, securing a significant victory in Wednesday’s provincial elections on the back of growing resentment against the globalist government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his plans to introduce Great Reset-style environmental policies.
“People, what the fuck happened?” exclaimed the frank-talking, half-Irish leader of the BBB, Caroline van der Plas in a victory speech on Wednesday evening as her party, which was formed just three years ago, saw the most gains of any party in the elections that will determine the makeup of the Dutch senate.
Genocidal China Launches ‘Global Civilization Initiative’ to Promote ‘Tolerance’
Chinese dictator Xi Jinping announced the launch on Wednesday of something called the “Global Civilization Initiative,” a plan to establish a “global network for inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation” in pursuit of “diversity” and “tolerance.”
China is currently engaging in a genocide of multiple ethnic groups, most prominently the Uyghur people of occupied East Turkistan. The Chinese Communist Party has also implemented multiple laws in the past decade meant to erase local cultures, particularly in East Turkistan, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia, forcibly separating children from their families, imposing the alien Mandarin language on local cultures, and essentially outlawing any religion not directly regulated by the state.
Report: Hate Crimes Against Catholics Spike in Canada
Hate crimes against Catholics in Canada more than tripled in just one year according to a new study from a Christian think tank.
On Thursday, Cardus, a Canadian non-partisan Christian think tank, released its report titled “Toward a Hopeful Future: Facing Down Religious Hate,” which found that in 2021 the “largest spike” in religiously motivated hate crimes occurred against Catholics: from 43 in 2020 to 155 in 2021.
Child and Teen Suicide Attempts Rose 22 Percent During Pandemic, Researchers Say
Emergency room visits for suicide attempts among minors increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of visits from youths who considered suicide also rising, researchers have found.
In a paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry on Thursday, researchers from the University of Calgary, the University of Ottawa, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Toronto’s SickKids Hospital for Sick Children, and University College Dublin conducted an analysis of 42 studies from 18 nations that looked at 11.1 million emergency department visits by children and adolescents.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
EXCLUSIVE: Chinese Firm That Bankrolled Biden Associates Closely Linked To Communist Party Officials
The Hong Kong company which wired over $3 million bound for Biden family associates in 2017 has close ties to, and shared personnel with, a firm formerly run by multiple members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation determined.
In March 2017, just months after President Joe Biden’s tenure as vice president in the Obama administration ended, State Energy HK Limited wired $3 million to Robinson Walker, LLC, run by “Biden family associate” John Robinson Walker, a House Oversight Committee memorandum revealed on Thursday.
Yet, the DCNF found that at the time of the $3 million transfer, the chairman and executive director of State Energy Group International Assets Holdings Limited (SEIAH), then a direct subsidiary of State Energy HK Limited with close personnel ties, appears to have been Ren Qingxin, who formerly served as a CCP representative at a business organization, according to a website belonging to a state-owned construction firm where Ren previously worked.
Biden Family Got $1 Million From Hunter Associate After China Wire: GOP Oversight Chair
House Oversight committee says Hallie Biden also received payments in 2017
The Biden family received more than $1 million from an associate linked to Hunter Biden after that associate’s account was wired money from a Chinese state energy company, according to Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.
The associate, John Robinson “Rob” Walker, worked with Hunter Biden, now-whistleblower Tony Bobulinski, and President Joe Biden’s brother James Biden incorporated a joint venture in Delaware in 2017 with the founder of CEFC China Energy, Ye Jianming, according to corporate documents obtained by The Epoch Times in late 2020.
House Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) on Thursday stated he obtained new records after subpoenaing Bank of America, which found that “at least three family members” received payments from accounts tied to Walker. His panel also released a letter (pdf) via Twitter saying that the account was named “Robinson Walker, LLC,” while it noted that Hallie Biden, the widow of President Joe Biden’s son Beau, received some of the payments.
While Republicans claimed that the wire was evidence that a Chinese state company was linked to the Biden family, Thursday’s letter only indicated that the funds were transferred from Walker’s account to Biden family accounts in March 2017. State Energy HK Limited, a separate Chinese company, wired $3 million to Robinson Walker, LLC on March 1, or several weeks after Joe Biden left office as vice president.
“After the Robinson Walker, LLC account received $3 million from State Energy HK Limited, Biden family members and their companies began receiving incremental payments over a period of approximately three months,” the memo said. “The recipients of the money included Hallie Biden, companies associated with Hunter Biden and James Biden.”
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told Breitbart News in no uncertain terms that the House of Representatives this year will not pass a clean debt ceiling hike without spending cuts and that the House will not raise taxes.
“The one thing I firmly believe,” McCarthy said, is “We’re not going to raise taxes and we’re not going to pass a clean debt ceiling.”
Jacob Chansley’s Lawyers Confront DOJ’s Claim It Didn’t Suppress Jan. 6 Evidence
The Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) latest objection to allegations that it suppressed evidence in its prosecution of Jan. 6, 2021, defendant Jacob Chansley flies in the face of the Sixth Amendment, current and former attorneys of Chansley told The Epoch Times in separate interviews this week.
“They are hiding. They affirmatively are electing not to disclose [exculpatory evidence],” Albert Watkins, Chansley’s former attorney who negotiated the Navy veteran’s 41-month sentencing agreement in 2021, told The Epoch Times on March 14, referring to the DOJ.
North Carolina House Passes Repeal of Handgun Permit Requirement
The North Carolina House passed legislation to repeal the state’s handgun permit requirement, sending it to Gov. Roy Cooper (D) Wednesday via a near veto-proof majority.
The Associated Press reported that the House passed the legislation by a vote of 70-44, which means every Republican present voted for it and three Democrats crossed the aisle to vote with the GOP.
TEXIT Bill Assigned To House Committee
The Texas Independence Referendum Act (House Bill 3596) has been referred to its committee in the Texas House of Representatives. Here’s what you need to know.
What Happens Next With The TEXIT Bill
The next step for the TEXIT bill is to schedule a hearing where the public can testify in support or opposition to the bill.
Although the TEXIT Bill has been assigned to the State Affairs committee, that does not mean that it will get a hearing. This happened during the last session with House Bill 1359. The decision about scheduling the bill for a hearing is solely at the committee chairman’s discretion.
It is critical that the Chairman schedules House Bill 3596 for a hearing.
Once the bill is heard in committee, the committee members will either vote to move it to debate and a vote on the floor or vote not to advance the bill.
ACTION ITEM: What You Can Do To Help Move The TEXIT Bill Forward
- Call Chairman Todd Hunter. Ask him to schedule House Bill 3596 for a hearing as soon as possible. Let his office know that you want an opportunity to testify on behalf of this bill.
- Call ALL of the members of the committee. Let them know you want House Bill 3596 scheduled for a hearing in State Affairs, that you support the vote, and ask them to support it as well. Remind them that a majority of voters want a vote on TEXIT.
- Call YOUR State Representative. Let them know you support House Bill 3596 and ask them to sign on as a co-author.
- Donate to help us reach these districts. We need to make a MAJOR outreach effort into the districts of these committee members in a short amount of time. Make a contribution to help us reach all Texas voters and find more TEXIT supporters.
The United States Capitol Police had information at least two days before the events of Jan. 6, 2021, indicating that attendance at President Donald Trump’s rally at the Ellipse on that day could swell to 3 million people, according to a federal trial exhibit and court testimony from a senior USCP commander.
An email sent by USCP Capt. Jessica Baboulis at 1:13 p.m. on Jan. 4, 2021, said that organizers of the Trump rally expected 3 million people to show up at the Ellipse near the White House on Jan. 6.
“Activity on the 6th. Women for America. March for Trump (POTUS attend at 11) 20k (organizer says 3 million to attend),” the email read.
Baboulis’s email was entered into evidence on Feb. 22 as a defense exhibit in the third Oath Keepers criminal trial in U.S. District Court in Washington DC.
HEALTH
15 Million Americans Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Soon, Group Warns
About 15 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage in the next year as states start to determine whether some individuals are eligible after a provision under the federal COVID-19 public health emergency is slated to expire in May.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey and analysis, some 18 percent of Medicaid recipients, or about 15 million people, will lose their health insurance coverage when states start removing people from their Medicaid rolls starting April 1.
Your Tap Water Is Filthy, but That Could Finally Change
The US is proposing bold action to clean thousands of “forever chemicals” out of drinking water.
FOLLOWING YEARS OF concern, the US Environmental Protection Agency moved this week to clean up drinking water, announcing the nation’s first standards for six “forever chemicals” found in tap water. It’s a foreboding and informal name for human-made chemicals that coat nonstick pans, food packaging, and waterproof clothes before ending up in the water you drink. These chemicals, known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are pervasive and found in pretty much everyone—even newborn babies.
If the EPA rule is finalized, public water companies will need to monitor for the chemicals and keep two widely studied ones, PFOA and PFOS, below levels of 4 parts per trillion—around the lowest threshold measurable. The rule will also regulate combined amounts of four other types of PFAS chemicals.
Experts say the proposal is monumental. It marks not just the first US national standard for regulating levels of these chemicals, but would also allow for widespread data collection to see which communities are most affected by contamination. Implementing these much needed fixes could take years and will be costly. Still, experts see this as a significant first step in pushing back against the PFAS problem, and one that could vastly improve water quality across the nation.
“These are very strong, health protective, and a historic move to really limit exposure to contamination from these chemicals,” says David Andrews, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit focused on health and environmental advocacy. “There are lots of opportunities to build off of this.”
Pine Needles: Ancient Importance for Human Health
Humans have long held a fascination with pine trees and their roles in the natural world around us. They are mysterious, beautiful, and ancient trees that can live to be hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years old.
There are around 125 different pine species that have been identified—some among the longest-living trees and organisms in the world.
In fact, some trees from the Bristlecone Pine species (Pinus longaeva) have been carbon-dated to be around 5,000 years old.
While the human genome has over three billion base pairs, the Loblolly pine species has been shown to have 22 billion base pairs—more than seven times the amount of genetic material in us humans.
Pine Needles and Shikimic Acid
Some might be familiar with the term shikimic acid due to the fact that it is the main constituent within the antiviral drug Oseltamivir, also known commercially as Tamiflu. While pine needles shouldn’t be confused with Tamiflu, shikimic acid as a naturally-occurring compound is known to induce several different physiological effects within the body.
Shikimic acid also is known in biology as the Shikimate Pathway and was discovered first by Dutch chemist Johan Fredrik Eykman in 1885.
The Shikimate Pathway is crucial for life and is a seven-step pathway used by bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae, some protozoans, and plants for the biosynthesis of vitamins, folates, and the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan.
These amino acids help produce neurotransmitters and compounds like serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, dopamine, CoQ10, and thyroid hormone—specifically through the help of beneficial gut bacteria.
Shikimic acid has been shown to support healthy platelet function and support healthy cardiovascular function in humans.
It has also been shown to help support the function of the gut and digestive system, as well as the myelin sheath. (9) The myelin sheath is the fatty substance that surrounds neurons and acts as “insulation” for all of the electrical communication that takes place between these neurons.
Shikimic acid is also known to exert anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties, amongst other important properties.
Shikimic Acid, Pesticides, and Digestive Functioning
As detailed earlier, shikimic acid is the end result of the seven-step metabolic process known as the shikimate pathway. This pathway is known to be negatively impacted by different pesticides, including the well-known glyphosate.
Glyphosate has been one of the most heavily used pesticides in the world and many studies and lawsuits have detailed the controversial use of it over recent years, with the World Health Organization classifying it as a class 2A probable human carcinogen. (11)
The pesticide creates a few different harmful and noteworthy effects, such as inhibiting the crucial cytochrome p450 enzymes as well as suppressing the function of the p53 gene. This particular gene is known loosely by scientists as the “Guardian of the Genome.” (12)
With respect to the shikimate pathway, glyphosate targets this seven-step process by inhibiting a key enzyme known as EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase). When EPSPS is inhibited, the building of the amino acids necessary for the production of proteins is blocked and the plant dies.
Although we humans do not contain the shikimate pathway directly, it is known how and why glyphosate still affects us.
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Raw Pine Power Plus is the power of wild harvested Northern American and Canadian white and red pine needles (both high in shikimic acid.) Long utilized as a natural medicine, it is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is high in terpenes including alpha-pinene, D-limonene, Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP) germacrene, and many more.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Goldman Sachs Cuts GDP Forecast, Warns of Economic Hit From Bank Rout
Goldman Sachs Group (GSG) slashed its U.S. GDP forecast and warned of an economic hit from recent bank failures.
The investment bank raised its estimate of the odds of an American recession on March 15, to 35 percent over the next 12 months due to increased concern over the economic impact of stress in the banking sector.
GSG warned of a cascade of effects throughout the economy in the aftermath of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank last week, the second- and third-largest bank failures in the U.S. history, respectively, only behind the collapse of Washington Mutual in 2008 during the during the financial crisis.
First Republic Gets $30 Billion Rescue From Top US Banks
First Republic Bank will receive $30 billion from some of the top U.S. banks in a bid to stabilize the troubled firm, the banks confirmed in a March 16 joint statement.
Eleven of the largest U.S. financial institutions will provide an infusion to the bank following a volatile week that saw the lender’s shares plunge following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) last week, the institutions stated, confirming anonymously sourced reports that there were discussions to shore up First Republic.
“The actions of America’s largest banks reflect their confidence in the country’s banking system. Together, we are deploying our financial strength and liquidity into the larger system, where it is needed the most,” the banks said in the March 16 statement. “Smaller- and medium-sized banks support their local customers and businesses, create millions of jobs and help uplift communities. America’s larger banks stand united with all banks to support our economy and all of those around us.”
The banks that will provide deposits include Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, BNY-Mellon, PNC Bank, State Street, Truist, and U.S. Bank. Those deposits will be uninsured, the statement said.
The U.S. Department of Treasury, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and the Federal Reserve also issued a statement confirming the move.
“This show of support by a group of large banks is most welcome, and demonstrates the resilience of the banking system,” the agencies stated.
Report: U.S. Government Pushing Big Banks to Aid First Republic
The latest effort to stem the crisis of confidence roiling the banking sector may involve a team tackle by some of the largest banks in the U.S., according to reports.
The Wall Street Journal reported J.P. Morgan Chase is working with Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo to provide a lifeline to First Republic Bank. The Journal said that Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, U.S. Bancorp, and PNC Bank are also involved in the discussions.
Billionaire Investor Ken Griffin Warns US Capitalism ‘Breaking Down’
Ken Griffin, the founder of hedge fund Citadel, said the rescue of Silicon Valley Bank shows the U.S. economic system is “breaking down before our eyes.”
“The U.S. is supposed to be a capitalist economy, and that’s breaking down before our eyes,” Griffin warned when speaking with the Financial Times on Monday after federal agencies said that they would protect SVB depositors, including ones that have $250,000, or above those above the federal insurance limit. Reports said that over 90 percent of SVB’s deposits were uninsured.
“There’s been a loss of financial discipline with the government bailing out depositors in full,” the billionaire added.
Late last week, U.S. regulators shut down SVB after customers withdrew their deposits en masse. Later, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) transferred all deposits of Silicon Valley Bank to a newly created entity and ensured that all depositors had access to their funds starting Monday.
Because of the relative strength of the U.S. economy, Griffin argued that the federal government did not need to take such dramatic action. Regulators said such moves were made to prevent broader contagion from afflicting the U.S. banking sector.
“It would have been a great lesson in moral hazard,” he said. “Losses to depositors would have been immaterial, and it would have driven home the point that risk management is essential.”
He continued, “We’re at full employment, credit losses have been minimal, and bank balance sheets are at their strongest ever. We can address the issue of moral hazard from a position of strength.”
Tick, Tick, Tick: The Quadrillion Dollar Derivatives Tsunami
Since Technocrats demonstrably have it in for Capitalism and Free Market Economics, is it conceivable that they would intentionally pull the tripwire on the gargantuan derivative market? The size of this obscure market is well over 1 quadrillion dollars and is built like a house of cards. Warren Buffet calls it “weapons of mass destruction.”
The following video explains only one aspect of the derivatives market:
BIS Warns Of 2023 Black Swan – A Derivatives Time Bomb
Housing Starts Jump Higher Than Expected
Home builders broke ground on more new houses than expected in February, a sign that higher interest rates are not weighing down the housing market as much as they were earlier.
Housing starts jumped 9.8 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.45 million. Economists had expected an increase of just 0.1 percent to 1.31 million after the very depressed January figure came in much lower than expected.
ATTOM Ranks Best Counties For Buying Single-Family Rentals In 2023
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released its Q1 2023 Single-Family Rental Market report, which ranks the best U.S. markets for buying single-family rental properties in 2023.
The report analyzed single-family rental returns in 212 U.S. counties with a population of at least 100,000 and sufficient rental and home price data. The analysis for this report incorporated median rents on 3-bedroom properties and median single-family home prices collected from ATTOM’s nationwide property database, as well as publicly recorded sales deed data licensed by ATTOM (see full methodology below).
Ron DeSantis Leads 18 States in Alliance Fighting Biden’s ESG
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), along with the governors of 18 other states, is taking action against President Joe Biden’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) agenda.
DeSantis, along with the governors of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming are forming what they have described as an “alliance” pushing back against Biden’s radical ESG agenda — a leftist form of activism used to influence corporations and Wall Street to consider partisan political positions unrelated to their actual businesses or organizations in their decision-making or investment actions.
On Thursday’s broadcast of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Harvard University Economics Professor and former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Ken Rogoff argued that the issues around banks have not been fixed “at all” because in a world with higher inflation and interest rates and poor growth in China, “we’re in a situation where things are going to break.” He also argued that it’s “surprising something hasn’t happened earlier.”
Co-host Kelly Evans asked, “Ken, talk about the contagion risk here, do you see it? Have authorities stopped the problem in its tracks?”
Rogoff responded, “Not at all. I think that we’re in a world where inflation’s higher, real interest rates are higher, China’s not going to be the growth force that it was. It’s not easy to have a soft landing here. It’s just surprising something hasn’t happened earlier. So, I think they did a good job in preventing bank runs, and credit both what the Swiss National Bank did and what the Fed did. But they can’t necessarily fix the deeper problem in some banks’ books. And it’s not just banks. In the economy more broadly, we’re in a situation where things are going to break.”
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA sees active Venus volcano for first time ever
NASA scientists have seen direct geological evidence of active volcanism on Venus for the first time ever.
The recent volcanic activity was discovered after examining radar images of Earth’s twin taken more than 30 years ago by NASA’s Magellan mission.
The images revealed a volcanic vent changing shape and increasing in size over the period of less than a year.
Sometimes newfound flower species are lurking where scientists least expect to see them — in parks, gardens and even in planters on balconies.
That’s where researchers in Japan recently identified a new species of orchid, its pink-and-white blooms so delicate and fragile they look like they were spun from glass.
The newly described flower is a neighbor to populations of a related orchid species common in Japan that it closely resembles. Its discovery is an important reminder that unknown species are often living right under our noses, scientists reported Friday in the Journal of Plant Research.
SURVEILLANCE STATE
New Zealand parliament bans TikTok
MPs have been told to remove the Chinese app from their phones by the end of the month
The popular Chinese video-sharing app
TikTok has been banned from all devices that can access New Zealand parliament’s network, the legislature’s chief executive has announced.
Wellington has become the latest capital to follow the US lead and restrict the access of its officials to TikTok over data security concerns. Earlier this the week, the UK government forbid British ministers and civil servants from using the app, which is owned by Beijing-based tech conglomerate ByteDance, effective immediately.
CDC Bought Phone Data to Monitor Americans’ Compliance With Lockdowns, Contracts Show
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) purchased data from tracking companies to monitor compliance with lockdowns, according to contracts with the firms.
The CDC paid one firm $420,000 and another $208,000. That bought access to location data from at least 55 million cellphone users.
The contracts, approved under emergency review due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were aimed at providing the CDC “with the necessary data to continue critical emergency response functions related to evaluating the impact of visits to key points of interest, stay at home orders, closures, re-openings and other public heath communications related to mask mandate, and other merging research areas on community transmission of SARS-CoV-2,” the contracts, obtained by The Epoch Times, state.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Official Appointed by Biden Wanted to Ban Gas Stoves: Memo
A federal official appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden wanted to ban gas stoves, according to a leaked memorandum.
“There is sufficient information available for CPSC to issue an NPR in FY 2023 proposing to ban gas stoves in homes,” Richard Trumka Jr., a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission commissioner, wrote in the Oct. 25, 2022, memo.
NPR stands for notice of proposed rulemaking while FY stands for fiscal year.
The memo was obtained by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and reviewed by The Epoch Times.
Trumka Jr. triggered a firestorm in January after saying that all options were on the table when it came to gas stoves.
“My guiding duty is protecting consumer health and safety. Gas stoves can emit dangerous level of toxic chemicals—even when not in use—and CPSC will consider all approaches to regulation,” Trumka Jr. said at the time.
U.S. lawmakers have criticized the floating of a ban, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). Others have urged the CPSC to impose new regulations on gas stoves.
Other officials quickly walked back Trumka’s comments.
“I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so,” Alex Hoehn-Saric, chair of the CPSC, said in a statement. The White House also said President Joe Biden would not back a gas stove ban and that the CPSC “is not banning gas stoves.”
San Francisco Bay Area Bans Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters
Regulators in the San Francisco Bay Area voted Wednesday to eliminate the sale and installation of natural gas-powered furnaces and water heaters over eight years beginning in 2027, ostensibly to limit air pollution.
The vote was the latest step taken by left-wing jurisdictions against natural gas — a convenient and relatively clean-burning source of fuel.
A Chemical Accident Is Happening Every Two Days on Average
During the first seven weeks of 2023, the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters (CPCD) reported 30 chemical accidents in the U.S., or one every 1.5 days
On average, one estimate suggests accidental chemical releases due to train derailments, leaks from industrial plants, truck accidents and pipeline ruptures occur every two days
Every U.S. state is home to chemical facilities that store or use hazardous chemicals, such as fertilizer plants, petroleum refineries, chemical manufacturers, wastewater treatment plants and more
In all, about 12,500 such facilities exist in the U.S., and 39% of the population — nearly 124 million people — live within 3 miles of one
In the event of a fire or spill, people up to 25 miles away from these industrial and commercial sites can be affected; many low-income communities are disproportionately affected by these risks
Climate Change Flip-Flop? Bank of England Drops It, Biden Drills For Big Oil
This week the financial world balances on the edge, and all the old rules have broken. Joe Biden is signing off on an oil drilling program on US soil which he said he’d never do — and it’s one of the largest ever — like building “66 new coal plants”. At the same time the Bank of England is apparently cutting the sacred climate change spending, and has leaked this news to the world.
As someone said on Twitter, “last week was a different country”.
After all these years, climate change has fallen out of the Weekly Hit Parade of Panic.
As Dr Benny Peiser of NetZeroWatch says “the risk of costly climate and Net Zero policies have become a bigger threat to the UK’s economy and financial stability than climate change.”
It’s not all good news though. One of the Bank’s new core operations is “a digital currency” — which is the ultimate social credit score and even more invasive than a carbon tax. Either climate change is being crushed under the weight of financial reality, or else it’s become irrelevant as newer, more potent scares appear. Sorry to be a cynic. The only thing that has materially changed about reality in the last week are bad loans rattling the stockmarkets.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
Read 5 Tips for a Bee Friendly Yard
What can you do to help the bees? We’ll share how to help save the bees and create a bee friendly yard for honey bees, bumble bees and native bees without spending a ton of money.
Whether it’s honey bees, bumblebees, mason bees or other native bees, we need our bees. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and varroa mites continue to take a toll on honeybees. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) states that as of August 2018: Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during all quarters of 2017. There was a 15 percent increase in CCD in Jan-March 2018 compared to the same quarter of 2017.
You may also enjoy:
- Beekeeping for Beginners – Natural Backyard Beekeeping
- 7 Reasons You Need Homestead Bees
- Start Beekeeping – Iron Oak Farm’s First Hive
- Honey as Medicine – Prevent Infection, Kill Bacteria, Promote Healing
- 5 Uses for Honey Everyone Should Know
COVID RELATED NEWS
Why the Body Attacks Itself After COVID-19 Vaccination
Why the Body Attacks Itself After COVID-19 Vaccination
The human immune system is designed to recognize foreign invaders (microbes, other substances), attack, kill, and then clear the debris away. For that reason, we must be sure that our bodies recognize our own cells as “protected” and the foreign ones as targets.
For the first time, mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) and adenoviral DNA (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines install the genetic code for our bodies to make a deadly foreign protein with the aspiration that our immune system would not only respond and protect us but also form live saving immunity from SARS-CoV-2.
We have come to learn this was the drug development miscalculation of all time. Production of a foreign protein in the human body has turned out to be a disaster as illustrated by Polykretis, et al. in a recent paper.
Here are some of the reasons why:
- Each cell that takes up the vaccine expresses the protein in the cell surface initiating autoimmune attack.
- The tissue distribution appears to be wide involving organs where this attack could be lethal (heart, brain, bone marrow, etc.).
- Both the genetic material and the spike protein are long-lasting (months to years) which is long enough to cause an autoimmune syndrome that may be permanent.
All Vaccines Perform Worse Than Natural Immunity Against COVID: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
While it has become a fact that vaccines have performed drastically worse during the Omicron era, a recent meta-analysis accounting for dozens of studies reveals that natural immunity offers better protection against reinfection, symptomatic infections, and severe disease from all COVID-19 variants than all the COVID vaccines. In addition, natural immunity offered the advantage of reducing viral rebound compared with full vaccination.
Natural Immunity Performs Better Against All Variants
Vaccines belong to a group of drugs called prophylactics, meaning that they are meant to prevent disease. However, that classification is not limited to vaccines but also refers to medication, regular health screenings, and when it comes to reinfection, a previous infection.
Fauci: We Will Need New Covid Shots ‘at Least Once a Year’
Former NIAID Director and White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe ” that it was likely a yearly COVID booster shot would be available like the Flu shot is.
Co-host Mike Barnicle asked, “How many booster shots we’ll be getting? How long in the future we will be getting booster shots?”
Fauci said, “You know, we don’t know definitely the answer to that. It is likely that this thing is not going to disappear, it’s not going to be eradicated, and it’s not going to be eliminated. So it’s going to be around, you know, for the foreseeable future.”
CANCEL CULTURE
Joe Rogan and Russell Brand on Censorship, Control and Media
Podcast host Joe Rogan interviewed comedian and activist Russell Brand, discussing the overarching agenda of control that’s accelerated since the pandemic
The pandemic brought to light how quickly reality can move from that safe space where “everything’s OK” to one that’s Orwellian, with rampant censorship and smear campaigns against any and all dissent
Brand feels an obligation to ensure a distinction is made between the empirical facts that are discussed and the joy of speculation
Openly discussing controversial topics from all sides builds credibility while censorship ultimately leads to a loss of trust and authority
Tech giants use demonetization to get people to stop posting certain types of content online without it appearing as outright censorship
Oregon High School Pulls Assignment Asking Students to Describe a ‘Sexual Fantasy’
A high school in Oregon has retracted an assignment that asked students to write a story describing a “sexual fantasy.”
Parents were outraged on learning students at Churchill High School in Eugene were asked to write a “Fantasy Story” that included a sex fantasy. The assignment originated from Canvas, an online learning management system.
“For those students who were absent, you will write a short story of a paragraph or two. This story is a sexual fantasy that will have NO penetration of any kind or oral sex (no way of passing an STI),” the assignment reportedly said.
Students were also asked to use in the story objects like candles, massage oil, feathers and flavored syrup.
Kirk Miller, the teacher, added the “story should show that you can show and receive loving physical affection without having sex.”
The task went viral after being posted to Facebook and parents were outraged.
“If an adult male asked my daughter to share her sexual fantasies with him, I would be livid and be going to the police. No teacher has any business asking this of a child,” one parent said.
Another parent told Oregon Live students felt “mortified, awkward, and creeped out.”
“The district reviews these curriculums before they get approved, right? Did they actually read this? If this was reviewed, how did it slip through the cracks? I could see this easily becoming a national scandal,” the parent said.
Principal Missy Cole told parents in a letter that the school will be working with the district office to “review the 2016 adopted secondary health curriculum-OWL: Our Whole Lives to determine the full context of the assignment.”
“At this time, the assignment has been removed from the class syllabus and will not be a part of students’ grades. The OWL curriculum is utilized by many districts across the state and is endorsed by the Oregon Department of Education,” she said.
PET NEWS
Purina Expands Recall of Dog Food Over Potentially Elevated Levels of Vitamin D
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is recalling more of its dry dog food due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D, according to federal health officials.
The voluntary recall relates to Purina’s Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental dog food in the eight-pound and 20-pound bags.
According to a notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Purina discovered a supplier may have put higher amounts of vitamin D in the kibbles than recommended.
The latest notice comes after the company first announced a recall on Feb. 8 over its products. Purina was previously notified of two separate confirmed cases of a dog exhibiting signs of vitamin D toxicity.
The FDA reports that ingestion of elevated levels of vitamin D can lead to health issues which may include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, and excessive drooling to renal dysfunction. If any of those symptoms have occurred in an owner’s dog who has eaten this product, the owner should contact a veterinarian.
Affected Products
Eight-pound and 20-pound bags of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental dog food with the following UPC and production codes should be immediately discarded, according to the notice:
- UPC codes: 38100 19190 (8 lb. bag), 38100 19192 (20 lb. bag)
- Production codes (first 8 characters): 2213 1082 (new); 2214 1082 (new); 2249 1082; 2250 1082; 2276 1082; 2277 1082; 2290 1082; 2360 1082; 2361 1082
Pet owners are urged to “immediately stop feeding and throw it away in a container where no other animals, including wildlife, can get to it,” the company said.
No other Purina pet care products are affected, the notice said.
Which Essential Oils Are Toxic to Pets?
While many essential oils are beneficial for humans, they’re often harmful to pets. This also applies to oils that you aren’t placing directly on your pet.
Essential oils are definitely having their moment right now as families all over the country trade in their chemical-heavy household products for them. Essential oil enthusiasts use these remedies for cleaning, relaxation, health and other reasons.
People love their pets, so putting essential oils and animals together is a logical next step for many folks who also love their oils and are seeking alternatives to other pet-cleaning or pampering products. After all, pet owners are usually generous people who love to share what they have with their furry family members.
Unfortunately, while many essential oils are beneficial for humans, they’re often harmful to pets. This also applies to oils that you aren’t placing directly on your pet. For instance, people frequently use essential oils with diffusers, but even using an oil in a diffuser or a warmer can potentially make your animal sick!
What Is the Problem with Essential Oils and Animals?
Think of it this way: Essential oils are very powerful. If nothing else, they have a powerful smell, but more importantly their molecules tend to be highly reactive with the compounds in our own bodies, and in pets’ bodies as well.
That’s what makes essential oils so useful. If they didn’t react with our bodies, they wouldn’t have any effect. But this is also why many essential oils and animals do not mix. Many oils are basically poisonous or toxic, because their reactions mess up a pet’s natural body chemistry. Human bodies can process a lot of weird stuff, but animals are often much more limited in what is safe for them.
Thus, when using any kind of essential oil, it is important to distinguish which oils can make your cat or dog sick.
Which Essential Oils Are Dangerous for Pets?
If you are considering using ANY essential oils in your home, in any way, contact your veterinarian first. There are so many different ways that essential oils and animals can interact without you realizing it.
Some essential oils are harmless, especially in small quantities. So it’s not like you can never have essential oils and pets at the same time. (Looking at you, yoga pet moms.) There may even be some essential oils for pets that are safe in very small amounts. (Though we don’t recommend it.) But in any case, always, always, always ask your veterinarian for approval before you use oils.
Essential Oils Harmful to Cats
Oils that are harmful to cats include, but are not limited to:
- Wintergreen
- Sweet birch
- Citrus (d-limonene)
- Pine
- Ylang ylang
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
- Pennyroyal
- Clove
- Eucalyptus
- Tea tree (melaleuca)
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Lavender
Essential Oils Harmful to Dogs
Oils that are harmful to dogs include, but are not limited to:
- Cinnamon
- Citrus (d-limonene)
- Pennyroyal
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Sweet birch
- Tea tree (melaleuca)
- Wintergreen
- Ylang ylang
- Anise
- Clove
- Thyme
- Juniper
- Yarrow
- Garlic
What Are the Symptoms of Poisoning in Pets?
Generally speaking, essential oils and animals do not mix. But how can you tell if your critter is having a bad reaction?
There are several common symptoms of poisoning in pets. A good rule of thumb as a pet owner is to stay alert if you see any changes of behavior in your animal. Here are some other symptoms to watch out for:
- The smell of essential oils on their fur, skin, breath or vomit
- Difficulty breathing
- Drooling
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Difficulty walking or stumbling
- Muscle tremors
- Pawing at the mouth or face
- Redness or burns on their lips, tongue, skin or gums
- Vomiting
What Should I Do If My Pet Shows These Symptoms?
Essential oils and animals can be a harmful combination. Just like poisoning in humans, the key to reacting to poisoning in your pet is to act fast. Don’t delay contacting a professional. Seek medical treatment immediately. Call your veterinarian, or contact the Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680.
GOOD NEWS
‘We are optimistic…’: Pinellas County deputy still in hospital, doing OK after Sunday shooting
A Pinellas County deputy who was shot three times Sunday evening in Pinellas Park is still recovering in the hospital but is said to be doing OK.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in an update Wednesday morning that K-9 Corporal Matthew Aitken “has shown improvement over the last day, and no further surgeries are scheduled at this time.”
Aitken and a sergeant with the sheriff’s office chased a man, identified as 23-year-old Zion Bostick, who was accused by a witness of trying to break into several cars.
Bostick reportedly ran behind a local church and continued through a wooded area to a neighborhood. This was when Aitken and K-9 Taco began to track the man.
When authorities caught up to him, they saw him trying to hide around the corner of a house, according to the police department. After trying to talk to the 23-year-old, police say Bostick shot at law enforcement and hit Aitken.
The deputy was shot in the neck, hand and leg, according to the police chief.
“While he has a long road to recovery, we are optimistic about his prognosis,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Sgt. Jacob Viano, who police say was also shot at three times by Bostick, was able to duck out of the way of bullets and fire back – ultimately killing the 23-year-old.
“It’s because of…[Viano], who he is and what he did, that the outcome here wasn’t different,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. “If Viano hadn’t run with [Aitken], he wouldn’t be here today because Viano was able to kill this guy before he fired additional rounds into [the deputy] when he was laying on the ground.”
Viano was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting.
Brazil veterinarian gives parrot a second chance at life with a prosthetic beak
The parrot could not survive in the wild without its beak, which is used to build nests, fend off predators and eat.
A parrot in Brazil got a lucky break when it was rescued after someone found it with a severely damaged beak. In fact, most of its little beak was completely gone. Birds use their hard beaks to eat, fend off other animals and build nests, and their mouths are essentially their hands while their feet are busy walking, scratching or holding twigs.
Plus, I don’t know if you’ve paid much close attention to birds, but they don’t seem to have a lot of dexterity with their tiny little bird legs. They sort of walk around like peg-legged pirates even though I’m pretty sure birds have knees. (I’m not a bird scientist or a zoologist if that wasn’t clear.)
Luckily for this parrot, Renascer ACN, an animal rescue and rehabilitation facility in Planura, Brazil, had a doctor on staff who not only knows if birds have knees but also knew how to make a prosthetic beak.
“Bird beaks are made mostly of bone—they’re just a specialized modification of the upper and lower jaw bones shared by almost all vertebrates. The outside of a bird’s beak, however, is covered not in skin, but in a thin, shiny sheath of keratin, the same protein that makes up your hair and fingernails,” Rebecca Heisman shares on the American Bird Conservatory website.
Heisman also points out that since the beaks on birds are made of bone, they cannot grow back if they’re broken off.
According to PetMD, birds who are missing portions of their upper and lower beak are typically unable to adapt and survive, which is what makes this parrot so lucky. While many other veterinarians likely would’ve recommended humane euthanasia, this bird was spared that fate thanks to a creative doctor.
The bird’s upper bill was almost completely gone and its lower bill was broken when Paulo Roberto Martins Nunziata, the founder of Renascer ACN, first saw the bird. Nunziata began working with veterinarian Maria Ângela Panelli Marchió, who specializes in animal orthopedics and creates animal prosthetics out of resin.
“This parrot was found in a terrible condition and had totally lost its beak. Together with veterinarian Maria Ângela Panelli Marchió, we rescued it as soon as we found out,” Nunziata told Bored Panda.
Panelli Marchió reconstructed the lower beak using polymethylmethacrylate and shaped it by hand to the broken bone. But for the upper beak, she had to create the entire prosthetic out of the same material and attach it using metal brackets into what was left of the top beak. The metal holds the new beak in place, and since it’s made of resin, it’s extremely hard—just like a real beak—and should last for years.
But while the beak reconstruction was a smashing success and is nearly indistinguishable from a natural beak, releasing the parrot wouldn’t be safe.
“Today it has a normal life. However, it just can’t be returned to its natural habitat because even though the prosthesis is resistant, there’s a risk of it falling over time, as these animals use their beaks for everything,” Nunziata explained to Bored Panda.
Surprisingly, the reconstruction only took one surgery due to the quick-setting nature of resin, and now this sweet parrot can have a normal life as some lucky person’s pet.
ICYMI
VIDEO: Jessica Sutta, former dancer with The Pussycat Dolls, talks with the Epoch Times about her Moderna vaccine injury, post-jabs.
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2023/03/16/nolte-cnn-dead-ratings-collapse-decade-low/
And from one of our listeners … the following is just a sample of what our government isn’t telling us:
Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
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