We live in a world of great change, and it is amazing to me that concerns within Australia which were never considered previously are suddenly on the Political agenda, and money thrown around as a bribe to achieve votes. Where do Values, ethics, compassion for people and genuine concern and action for environment come into it? This election is critical for preventing any escalation Global Warming, and changing Australian Politics from fear driven negative energies, to creating positive change. What do you think?*
Values- Mick from Grafton.
Now that an election is drawing very near, it is probably a good time to reflect on our values, ethics and morals as a nation. What is it that Australia, and being an Australian, stands for or represents these days?
Have we become a nation of “I’m alright Jack” self centred individuals, who care nothing for the suffering going on all around the planet. Do we care about anything but ourselves and our immediate needs? We are happy to trade with China; it brings in billions of dollars to the economy and keeps a relatively small number of people in high paying mining jobs.
However, China invaded Tibet, killed large numbers of Tibetans, ruthlessly suppressed their religion, and lately has brought in large numbers of Chinese to Tibet, so that they now outnumber the Tibetans (ethnic cleansing). Also, China executes or imprisons political dissidents, and other “criminals”- such as practitioners of Falung Gong meditation. And some of the Chinese goods you buy are produced by slave labour in prison camps. But hey, trade is good for the economy, so who really cares how China treats its minorities and dissenters! Perhaps we will have cause to regret this trade down the track a few years – we exported scrap iron to Japan prior to World War 2, and had it re-exported in a form we did not appreciate during the war.
Another indicator of our rapidly declining standards (ethics and morals) is the fact that many political parties and politicians blatantly lie to the electorate, distort facts, or rely on fear and scare tactics to get re-elected, and the voting public are accepting of this behaviour. The Wheat Board got caught out paying bribe money to the Saddam Hussein regime to sell our wheat there. This regime was later considered so heinous that it was necessary to invade Iraq to get rid of the ruthless dictator who ran it. Yours and my tax dollars are being spent maintaining Australian troops in Iraq, when we were paying bribes to them before. Does this strike you as inconsistent? However, there are some in Australia who think that the only mistake made was in getting caught – it doesn’t matter who you deal with, as long as you are making money out of it! There is also much greed and unethical practices amongst our corporations and their management. Fraud, embezzlement and price fixing rear their ugly heads from time to time. Governments are reluctant to police many of these matters because it would mean offending those they take political donations from (e.g. Tobacco Companies which deliberately target children to get them addicted at an early age). Mark Twain commented that it was difficult to get someone to understand something when their pay packet depended on them not understanding it.
We also seem to have caught the scourge of materialism from America. Our lives seem to revolve around our possessions. We continually want more, bigger, better, the latest model, etc. We will often replace an item that is working satisfactorily just because we can. We define ourselves by our “status” in a materialistic world – how much we earn, how much “stuff” we have, do we have the right “look”, are we keeping up with the Joneses. Many of the financial pressures Australians are under at the moment are self created. Our parents and grandparents started out in small modest houses. Now we “want it all”, up front, with all of the bells and whistles - two car garage, en-suites, central heating and cooling, fully carpeted, huge rooms, in-ground swimming pool and spa.
The environment that sustains us is having to pay the cost for this crass and mindless materialism and greed.
Other signs of declining values in Australia are the return of racism, cruelty to animals, religious intolerance, zenophobia (fear of foreigners or anything “different”), homophobia, and the worrying rise of religious fundamentalist fanatics. These are all bad portents for the future of Australia as a tolerance, just and free society. Apathy is also a sign of our declining values, and unwillingness to take a stand on anything. Socrates made the famous statement that “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Unfortunately, today many people would not even understand what this statement means, as their thought processes and character are so shallow that they could adequately be replaced by a two dimensional cardboard cut out representation of themselves. Money and the economy are *_not_* all important! We are defined by what we do, and how we behave, and not by what we say (empty talk), or what we own.
It is time to make a stand, show courage and character, be prepared to stand apart from the mindless herd, as an individual of worth. Your survival _will_ depend on it!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Human Rights- and Burma
With the recent atrocities in Burma the plight of those who suffer at the hands of military dictatorships was highlighted. What do you think of a world which allows some countries to be invaded under the guise of concern for democracy (those which contain oil) and yet other countries plight to be ignored?
Our Brother’s Keeper…
When one of us suffers injustice we all suffer, and where we remain complacent and silent while another suffers we are as much responsible for the suffering as are the perpetrators of such crimes against Humanity. One of the more recent examples of the violation of human rights to flash across our TV screens has occurred as the result of the Myanmar Governments crackdown and imprisonment of pro Democracy protestors in Burma.
Many peaceful protestors are still currently imprisoned for exercising a basic human right which so many of us here take for granted, Freedom of speech. I believe there are many ways we can each petition for the release of all Burmese political prisoners including the many Buddhist Monks without adding to the current anger, hatred and intolerance of the present military regime. Speak out and be heard yes, without doubt, but not with hate, malice and or destructive words and energies but with love. A greater love which will not stand back silent and watch another suffer. The compassionate heart so aptly expressed in the symbol of the sacred Lotus. Remind those who would imprison and torture that out of the darkness of ignorance, fear and brutality there is yet beauty that can come from such experiences and circumstances.
If you should feel so inclined post, fax, email pictures of lotus flowers to the Burmese authorities and other local and overseas government bodies or institutions with blessings calling upon their higher conscience to action.
Perhaps you may even wish to add some words such as those spoken so eloquently by Victor Hugo. “There is one thing stronger than all the armies of the World,
And that is an idea whose time has come…”
Remind them that out of the mud of darkness and ignorance true beauty can come. A compassionate call for the immediate release of all Burmese political prisoners.
Or better still, check out all the great works undertaken by Amnesty International and get involved! Never underestimate your power to help, in being a voice of conscience for those abused and mistreated. Support organizations such as ‘Amnesty International’ for truly without their light the world would be in a much darker space.
Michelle
Our Brother’s Keeper…
When one of us suffers injustice we all suffer, and where we remain complacent and silent while another suffers we are as much responsible for the suffering as are the perpetrators of such crimes against Humanity. One of the more recent examples of the violation of human rights to flash across our TV screens has occurred as the result of the Myanmar Governments crackdown and imprisonment of pro Democracy protestors in Burma.
Many peaceful protestors are still currently imprisoned for exercising a basic human right which so many of us here take for granted, Freedom of speech. I believe there are many ways we can each petition for the release of all Burmese political prisoners including the many Buddhist Monks without adding to the current anger, hatred and intolerance of the present military regime. Speak out and be heard yes, without doubt, but not with hate, malice and or destructive words and energies but with love. A greater love which will not stand back silent and watch another suffer. The compassionate heart so aptly expressed in the symbol of the sacred Lotus. Remind those who would imprison and torture that out of the darkness of ignorance, fear and brutality there is yet beauty that can come from such experiences and circumstances.
If you should feel so inclined post, fax, email pictures of lotus flowers to the Burmese authorities and other local and overseas government bodies or institutions with blessings calling upon their higher conscience to action.
Perhaps you may even wish to add some words such as those spoken so eloquently by Victor Hugo. “There is one thing stronger than all the armies of the World,
And that is an idea whose time has come…”
Remind them that out of the mud of darkness and ignorance true beauty can come. A compassionate call for the immediate release of all Burmese political prisoners.
Or better still, check out all the great works undertaken by Amnesty International and get involved! Never underestimate your power to help, in being a voice of conscience for those abused and mistreated. Support organizations such as ‘Amnesty International’ for truly without their light the world would be in a much darker space.
Michelle
Climate Change - What can we do to help?
The impact of environmental disasters will affect us all in one way or another what can you personally do to aid the world in general and your family?
Climate Change and You
By now many people are starting to take climate change seriously (except perhaps for our Federal and State Governments). Farmer’s got all excited after one decent fall of rain in last few years and thought that the drought was over, and being climate optimists (or having large debts to service) they borrowed more money so that they could put in a crop, and hope for a bumper harvest. What we have witnessed since has been seedlings wilting and dying from lack of any follow up rain. The drought isn’t over, it also isn’t a drought that will suddenly end, and everything will be back as it was in the “good old days”, so that we can carry on with the behaviour patterns of the past. What we are witnessing is just the start of rapid climate shifts around the planet. Far worse is yet to come. World grain prices are going through the roof as crop yields in Australia and many other grain producing areas are either much lower that expected, or have largely failed due to erratic rainfall. Other areas are experiencing severe flooding, e.g. sub Saharan Africa, parts of Europe and South East Asia. In an ironic twist, while many crops are dying for lack of rain, other crops have been destroyed by floods and prolonged inundation.
Our food supply system is dependent on inputs of vast quantities of petroleum products (diesel, petrol, oil). Petroleum products are needed in the production and transportation of foods, and in the production of herbicides and pesticides that are used to protect the crops from insects, diseases and competition species (weeds). And as anyone with a car will know, fuel supplies are dwindling and prices rising. The petroleum is running out, the human population continues to grow exponentially, and our soils and ecosystems are being rapidly depleted. A triple whammy! What this means to you and me personally, is that we are entering a period where food supplies will become unpredictable, and many shortages with concurrent high prices will occur. It is therefore time to start making preparations to allow you to reduce the effect that food shortages will mean to you and your family. It is time to start learning how to be more self sufficient in many ways. So what can you do to prepare yourself for what is coming? Plant fruit and nut trees around your property. Get them in now, they take several years to grow large enough to give you a good yield, and get their root systems down deep. Those with larger properties are luckier in that they have room to plant more fruit and nut trees, while those with quarter acre blocks can still find room for a least half a dozen fruit trees. I found room on my ¼ acre block for an apricot tree, a plum tree, a mandarin tree, a mulberry tree, a macadamia tree, a fig, a Calimata olive, a pear tree, an apple tree, two passionfruit vines (growing on wires strung along the back fences), and a blueberry bush. There was already a good sized Mango tree, a grape vine, Lady Finger Banana trees and a peach tree growing in the yard when I purchased the property. I also found room for 3 Oak trees, 2 Deodar Cedars and a Lacebark tree. So don’t tell me you don’t have any room to plant anything. I have had a couple of failures, frost killed the paw paw tree and the lychee tree did nothing for a year and then died.
The next projects for me are a vegetable patch (in a raised garden bed since I have clay and not soil on my property), a large water tank, and at some stage if I have sufficient money, solar hot water and a few solar panels. Those of you who are renting can still do something. You can grow vegetables in those foam boxes that you can get from the green grocer. Just add potting mix, fertiliser and some seeds (or seedlings) and water. The rest is up to nature. You can also have some fruit trees growing in large pots that you can take with you when you move. There are grafted fruit trees that have 2 or 3 types of fruit on the one root stock. You can also grow fruit trees espaliered along walls of courtyards or fences. If you get motivated enough to grow your own, you eventually might want to make or buy fruit and vegetable drying racks so that you can store excesses from summer to tide you through the winter. Those with enough room, and who don’t mind the hassles can also entertain the idea of having egg laying chickens in a coop. You can trade your surpluses with someone else for what they have to offer.
In this brief treatise, I have given you some hints as to what you can do to prepare for the future. Remember all of these things take time to grow or bring into reality, and if you leave it till too late to start, then it is you (and your stomach) that will bear the consequences.
Michael
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton on the APEC summit
Welcome one and all to our discussion group, and tonight we summon all of great light to broadcast this light in a joint effort to raise mass consciousness. During this discussion night you will hear words such as expansive, incorporated light, and enhanced capacity. These are key words.Let your mind expand and hold focus for this time of revelation, that as light comes so too do actions and energies of those who oppose the greater light to come. We have called you all together tonight to give a gift to the world, one which will give a burst of light so great into the mass consciousness that this expansion of consciousness makes it possible for closed minds to open, if only a little to give to the world a gift far more beautiful than now experienced. Now we are offering you a chance to change this way your world functions.Its now exactly one day that this Apex Summit has officially commenced, but energies are not high enough, are rigid and stubborn arrogance is there, where individual countries see only their own economic rationalism as all important.
We plan to change that with incorporated light being burst into the grid system, so hearts and minds are opened to the fullness of possibilities.Australia is a lucky country they say, perhaps, or perhaps it is placed that way to hold balance for the world in general, the northern hemisphere, and in this discussion group tonight we intend to change the format and the function to complement and structure a new possibility to be in place, so automated practises of lip service to a cause is not in place, and hearts and minds are capable of staying open, and seeing the bigger picture. This will be our greatest gift yet that light can overcome darkness, and those who represent darkness and hold energies not wholesome will soon be seen by all as closed, but be given a chance to change their limited thinking.We offer you this gift, that you offer up your own opinions on these potentially inflammable subjects, that you discuss and broaden your own views, but also see what may be possible outcomes for the benefit of the whole.To structure this discussion group this way we ask that each individual be given the opportunity to speak on each highly explosive subject, and to broadcast their views and energies out if coming from love, this will aid the whole, and we urge you to come from higher energies.
We ask you to try to see this potential for positive change, and do not back away from giving your innermost thoughts. It’s so important that you do not hold back on your feelings, but seek to come from a clear space. The subject areas are these so you may consider these the questions to be answered. Please don’t all say I agree with so and so, so as to avoid deep thoughts and confrontation of beliefs.
1. How can the world, countries, continue to hold each other at bay, and to fill individual needs for resources, and finance internal needs alone, how can this be done without taking unfair advantage of others?
2. When one country is seen as by all as a world power and one which is ALL powerful, how does this implication come about and remain there if not by the implied and contorted reference to power as the ‘be all?
3. How can you describe a country as all-powerful, if the fundamental values of that country are flawed by greed or potential lust for what others have?
4. How does this impact upon the whole?
5. Is an all-powerful country sustainable?
6. Is the cost of this sustainment of an image worth the effort?
7. Is there a worthy world policeman?
8. Or is there a continued view of the world with one nation pulling the strings to be seen as all powerful?
9. Is there a Messianic view which underscores the nation, which considers itself the world policeman?
10. How do other nations hold a valued stand as potential allies without in some way giving away their own values to achieve the status of ally?
11. When one nation has leaders who consider themselves as beyond laws, and when the negotiable rights of individuals or nations are unvalued where does this take civilisation?
12. What value is there to life without values, and upholding all as equal?
13. Does democratic rights mean having the right to determine another countries direction and laws?
All these are part and parcel of a much greater problem now, of homage being paid to economic rationalism, and values and ethical demands held hostage, being put on hold, or on the backburner so to speak. This Summit which takes place in Australia in Sydney, carries with it a very heavy price, the humbling of nations to appease a lesser light, economic rationalism, while the good of all nations, the laws to protect human values is put at risk.Whenever economic rationalism is put into practice, something has to give, and in this case it is human rights and the value placed upon the environment, and there is no more crucial subject for discussion than this. We ask you to look at these questions and ask them of the general population.Put it on your website and bog sites.Let it be that you have faith in your own opinions.You are the shape shifters of the future, you in your formulative stages have entered into this discussion on many subjects, but by far the most important question you can ask of yourselves now is to speak out about wrongs.
14. Do I represent the mass of humanity who allow their future to be determined for them without questioning, without speaking out? Perhaps the way to protect peace is to create it with love as the key, to look at those massive problems within humanity and not say it is all to hard, to big, I can’t change any thing. For the period of time humanity is now entering is a trial by combat with ego’s, of nations egos, of individuals who see power as the greatest of gifts to achieve or take.We issue you with this warning, environmentally, socially, humanity is entering unchartered waters. The problems which are created by a world of the haves and have nots, of one nation seen as almighty is to be challenged, and the under lying reason for this challenge will be that politics have gone out the window so to speak. . . . . . . human rights, goodness & virtue seen as tradeable, for a take of the power, or to be seen at side of power.
Power is there for all equally to be shared. Power as love flows from God, and no one nation is seen as almighty, noble, and beyond rules of conduct and legitimacy. What comes to humanity is a checking system, where action brings reaction, & wrong action; those decisions which are not wholesome reap a reward, costly, sadly to many innocents along the way. We see this as a gift of love to put your views out, but try to come from love, not criticism for its own sake. We see potentials for humanity which come quickly now of your own creation, but they can be minimised by changing the status quo, where economic rationalism is king.
Balance is needed in all things, and without balance the top-heavy fall. See this please as a gentle reminder that love is the key.To share equitably with all nations is possible. To live without treading upon other nations is possible, and to avoid the future we see as developing there must be a return to the notion of the uniting of all nations, (United Nations) and if there are flaws or inadequacies in the present system, then repair them.Do not see a world where one massive power or nation is the way, it was never God’s way . . .. A gentle hand in velvet grove is always better than to breed such hatred in the hearts and minds of those seen as less.We enter a time where humanity needs direction to guide them through troubled waters, but we can only guide. It is you, individuals, who can actively change a world, and it is in a forum of discussion change comes. Look please gently at these topics for us and set your world alight, but with love, not hatred and envy, they are hard masters & require great payment.Your loving response and awareness can shift the whole. Do this with total awareness you are all part of the problem, each have at times values not honoured, words not said. How can understanding come if all is not open and upon the table, it is so with nations as well?
Blessings.Sandro Bottecelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton.
We plan to change that with incorporated light being burst into the grid system, so hearts and minds are opened to the fullness of possibilities.Australia is a lucky country they say, perhaps, or perhaps it is placed that way to hold balance for the world in general, the northern hemisphere, and in this discussion group tonight we intend to change the format and the function to complement and structure a new possibility to be in place, so automated practises of lip service to a cause is not in place, and hearts and minds are capable of staying open, and seeing the bigger picture. This will be our greatest gift yet that light can overcome darkness, and those who represent darkness and hold energies not wholesome will soon be seen by all as closed, but be given a chance to change their limited thinking.We offer you this gift, that you offer up your own opinions on these potentially inflammable subjects, that you discuss and broaden your own views, but also see what may be possible outcomes for the benefit of the whole.To structure this discussion group this way we ask that each individual be given the opportunity to speak on each highly explosive subject, and to broadcast their views and energies out if coming from love, this will aid the whole, and we urge you to come from higher energies.
We ask you to try to see this potential for positive change, and do not back away from giving your innermost thoughts. It’s so important that you do not hold back on your feelings, but seek to come from a clear space. The subject areas are these so you may consider these the questions to be answered. Please don’t all say I agree with so and so, so as to avoid deep thoughts and confrontation of beliefs.
1. How can the world, countries, continue to hold each other at bay, and to fill individual needs for resources, and finance internal needs alone, how can this be done without taking unfair advantage of others?
2. When one country is seen as by all as a world power and one which is ALL powerful, how does this implication come about and remain there if not by the implied and contorted reference to power as the ‘be all?
3. How can you describe a country as all-powerful, if the fundamental values of that country are flawed by greed or potential lust for what others have?
4. How does this impact upon the whole?
5. Is an all-powerful country sustainable?
6. Is the cost of this sustainment of an image worth the effort?
7. Is there a worthy world policeman?
8. Or is there a continued view of the world with one nation pulling the strings to be seen as all powerful?
9. Is there a Messianic view which underscores the nation, which considers itself the world policeman?
10. How do other nations hold a valued stand as potential allies without in some way giving away their own values to achieve the status of ally?
11. When one nation has leaders who consider themselves as beyond laws, and when the negotiable rights of individuals or nations are unvalued where does this take civilisation?
12. What value is there to life without values, and upholding all as equal?
13. Does democratic rights mean having the right to determine another countries direction and laws?
All these are part and parcel of a much greater problem now, of homage being paid to economic rationalism, and values and ethical demands held hostage, being put on hold, or on the backburner so to speak. This Summit which takes place in Australia in Sydney, carries with it a very heavy price, the humbling of nations to appease a lesser light, economic rationalism, while the good of all nations, the laws to protect human values is put at risk.Whenever economic rationalism is put into practice, something has to give, and in this case it is human rights and the value placed upon the environment, and there is no more crucial subject for discussion than this. We ask you to look at these questions and ask them of the general population.Put it on your website and bog sites.Let it be that you have faith in your own opinions.You are the shape shifters of the future, you in your formulative stages have entered into this discussion on many subjects, but by far the most important question you can ask of yourselves now is to speak out about wrongs.
14. Do I represent the mass of humanity who allow their future to be determined for them without questioning, without speaking out? Perhaps the way to protect peace is to create it with love as the key, to look at those massive problems within humanity and not say it is all to hard, to big, I can’t change any thing. For the period of time humanity is now entering is a trial by combat with ego’s, of nations egos, of individuals who see power as the greatest of gifts to achieve or take.We issue you with this warning, environmentally, socially, humanity is entering unchartered waters. The problems which are created by a world of the haves and have nots, of one nation seen as almighty is to be challenged, and the under lying reason for this challenge will be that politics have gone out the window so to speak. . . . . . . human rights, goodness & virtue seen as tradeable, for a take of the power, or to be seen at side of power.
Power is there for all equally to be shared. Power as love flows from God, and no one nation is seen as almighty, noble, and beyond rules of conduct and legitimacy. What comes to humanity is a checking system, where action brings reaction, & wrong action; those decisions which are not wholesome reap a reward, costly, sadly to many innocents along the way. We see this as a gift of love to put your views out, but try to come from love, not criticism for its own sake. We see potentials for humanity which come quickly now of your own creation, but they can be minimised by changing the status quo, where economic rationalism is king.
Balance is needed in all things, and without balance the top-heavy fall. See this please as a gentle reminder that love is the key.To share equitably with all nations is possible. To live without treading upon other nations is possible, and to avoid the future we see as developing there must be a return to the notion of the uniting of all nations, (United Nations) and if there are flaws or inadequacies in the present system, then repair them.Do not see a world where one massive power or nation is the way, it was never God’s way . . .. A gentle hand in velvet grove is always better than to breed such hatred in the hearts and minds of those seen as less.We enter a time where humanity needs direction to guide them through troubled waters, but we can only guide. It is you, individuals, who can actively change a world, and it is in a forum of discussion change comes. Look please gently at these topics for us and set your world alight, but with love, not hatred and envy, they are hard masters & require great payment.Your loving response and awareness can shift the whole. Do this with total awareness you are all part of the problem, each have at times values not honoured, words not said. How can understanding come if all is not open and upon the table, it is so with nations as well?
Blessings.Sandro Bottecelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
APEC Summit. Endulgence of Politicians or a necessary event?
What are your opinions on the APEC Summit?
My thought are these: That the over indulgence of politicians, the enormous waste of tax payers dollars is immoral. That it would have been far better to keep politicians in Canberra, here the city is already set out for such events. It seems to me that the excesses are truly immoral, these are public servants, and yet countless innocent people are being effected, loosing money and possibly jobs, and suffering countless inconveniences so that George Bush, John Howard, and other politicians can indulge their whims and egos, having harbour cruises, BBQS and pat a Koala and other animals taken from the zoo for their inconvenience to Garden Island.
This event has shown how blown out the egos of these politicians actually are, that instead of coming to discuss important topics like the environment and equality of all nations, with a consideration for wastage of resources and manpower, there is an expectation they be treated like royalty and their every whim indulged. If there is truly an 'axis if evil', one must question whether this event as it is presented now by John Howard is coming from higher energies or simply ingratiate himself in Bushes' Shadow and coming from darker energy. To me evil is the immorality of abuse, any abuse of power and use of resources to empower the self.
My hope is that a voter backlash reminds John Howard that he is a public servant so too all politicians that are on very shaky ground, and that arrogance and self promotion do not serve the greater good.
Dragonfly
My thought are these: That the over indulgence of politicians, the enormous waste of tax payers dollars is immoral. That it would have been far better to keep politicians in Canberra, here the city is already set out for such events. It seems to me that the excesses are truly immoral, these are public servants, and yet countless innocent people are being effected, loosing money and possibly jobs, and suffering countless inconveniences so that George Bush, John Howard, and other politicians can indulge their whims and egos, having harbour cruises, BBQS and pat a Koala and other animals taken from the zoo for their inconvenience to Garden Island.
This event has shown how blown out the egos of these politicians actually are, that instead of coming to discuss important topics like the environment and equality of all nations, with a consideration for wastage of resources and manpower, there is an expectation they be treated like royalty and their every whim indulged. If there is truly an 'axis if evil', one must question whether this event as it is presented now by John Howard is coming from higher energies or simply ingratiate himself in Bushes' Shadow and coming from darker energy. To me evil is the immorality of abuse, any abuse of power and use of resources to empower the self.
My hope is that a voter backlash reminds John Howard that he is a public servant so too all politicians that are on very shaky ground, and that arrogance and self promotion do not serve the greater good.
Dragonfly
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