This Is Not Oscars Coverage.

This is just me writing about a movie I saw recently. Which I happened to really enjoy.

Everything Everywhere All At Once.

I don't know if you've heard. However in 2020 a Coronavirus Pandemic was declared. Which, to me, always made about as much sense as declaring an Oxygen Pandemic.

This particular Coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In order to avoid anti-Asian, particularly anti-Chinese, racism the World Health Organisation (WHO) rejected the name the Coronavirus had chosen for itself; "Far Eastern Acute Respiratory Syndrome (FEARS)." Instead choosing the clumsy and meaningless; "COVID-19."

As with everything else the WHO did during the Pandemic. This effort to combat anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism really did not work. The US in particular saw a massive rise in anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism. Most worryingly anti-Asian and anti-Chinese violence.

The movie is a response to the anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism which arose during the Pandemic.

The plot centres around; "Evelyn Quan-Wang" played by Michelle Yeoh. A middle-aged Chinese immigrant to the US State of California. As she prepares to throw a party celebrating Chinese New Year. Making my random decision to watch it on the eve of Chinese New Year 2023 (Yin Water 癸 Rabbit 卯) all the more impressive.

Playing on Chinese-American immigrant stereotypes Evelyn owns and runs a laundromat. The business is failing. Alongside preparing for Chinese New Year Celebrations Evelyn is also having to prepare for an Inland Revenue Service (IRS) tax audit which could finally put the laundromat out of business and see her family lose everything.

While Evelyn is preparing to save the business and everything her family owns. Her husband; "Waymond Wang" played by Ke Hu Quan is preparing to divorce her. He has already filed the paperwork and tries to serve Evelyn with the summons just before they leave for the IRS offices.

If that was not enough Evelyn is also having to care for her elderly father; "Gong Gong" (Cantonese for grandfather) played by James Hong. Gong Gong's ill-health having forced an end to a long period of estrangement between father and daughter.

Evelyn's efforts to care for her father are further complicated by her daughter; "Joy" played by Stephanie Hsu. Joy is gay and desperately wants to tell her grandfather. Introducing Gong Gong to her girlfriend; "Becky Sregor" played by Tallie Medel.

Evelyn is understandably concerned how her very traditional Chinese, very homophobic father will react. Given that he once disowned his own daughter over the man she fell in love with.

So the movie is set amid this very oppressive atmosphere of stress, pressure and fear. Which I'm sure that we all remember from the Pandemic and the Lockdowns.

Evelyn quickly learns that the sense of impending doom in her world is not the result of a Pandemic. It is due to the emergence of this evil force intent on imposing its malevolent will on everyone and everything. It is the reason you no longer sleep as well at night, your coffee tastes slightly different and your hair doesn't hang as nicely as it did the day before.

This evil all consuming force is central to one of the legends of Jade Emperor from Chinese mythology. Really one of the more popular legends regarding Jade Emperor. Although that does really depend on which part of China the person you are talking to is from.

Chinese mythology holds that there is the Supreme God of High Heaven (Taiyi/太一). Taiyi looks down from the dimension of heaven onto this earthly dimension through the Heaven's Gate. The Sauwastika (卍), the perceived movement of the Chariot Constellation (Plough/Big Dipper) around the celestial North Pole.

Taiyi communicates with this dimension through the Five Deities (Wudi/五帝) or Five Gods (Wushen/五神). The five planets that make up the Wu Xing; Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Venus. 

To further aid humans Taiyi and the Wushen sent three demigods and five sages to give them essential skills and knowledge. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (三皇五帝).

The Jade Emperor (Yu Di/玉皇) was sent to teach humans the skill of Felicity. The ability to properly express one's thoughts and emotions. Essential for happiness. Something Taiyi does through heavenly ornaments and lights; the Wushen, planets and stars.

In this version of the legend Jade Emperor became frustrated that as a mere sage he could not do enough to ease the suffering of humans. So Jade Emperor retreated to a cave to meditate to increase his mastery of the order of the universe (Tao/Dao) and ascend to the level of god/demigod. A process that is said to have lasted for 960 million years.

While Jade Emperor was attempting to master Tao/Dao. An evil force emerged on Earth with the intention to impose its will on all of dimensions of the Universe, forcing its image upon them.

By the time Jade Emperor emerged from his cave this evil force's attempts to conquer heaven were already underway. Seeing the evil glow emerging from the Heaven's Gate Jade Emperor returned to the Heavens where he was able to battle and defeat the evil force.

As reward the gods, immortals and humans declared Jade Emperor to be The Supreme Sovereign (至高無上的主權). Forcing him to remain in Heaven, taking over the duties of Taiyi.

In the legend this all consuming evil force has no name or gender. However in writing about the legend in relation to the 2022 Winter Olympics/Para-Olympics held in Beijing, China. I named the malevolence; "The Girl Jiaozhi."

So the Chinese character; "Na (那)" signifying a young female human or; "girl." Along with the Chinese characters; "Jiaozhi (脚 趾)" meaning; "Toe." As in; "NATO." 

However I should point out that was entirely my own joke. I'm not even sure it was China's joke. It certainly wasn't this movie's joke.

The movie attempts to introduce viewers to the concept at the centre of all Animist belief systems. Particularly Asian Animist belief systems.

That Everything that has happened. Along with Everything that will happen. Is happening now. All at Once. It is only its state which is different.

A concept which modern, conventional Physics has slowly started to catch up with. Albert Einstein's observation in his Special Theory of Relativity that Energy (E) can become Mass (M) and vice versa. When calculated relative to a universal constant - the Speed of Light (C) squared. E=MC².

The Ancient Greeks are widely considered to be the first people to write down their attempts to explain the Universe. Certainly ever since then attempts have been made to explain this Animist concept that Everything, Everywhere, Everywhen is happening All At Once using; "The Multiverse." That there are multiple dimensions within this Universe or multiple universes.

Throughout its many incarnations across recorded history The Multiverse has always been seen more as an allegory rather than a proper scientific theory. 

For example Einstein's Theory of Relativity holds that Time is happening all at once, in different frames relative to each other. Something which is essential to the function of modern satellite communications. However that is still a long way away from different versions of yourself existing in different dimensions.

At around 17:10 on 27/3/23 (UK date) this is going to take so long to explain to you. 

Edited at around 16:40 on 29/3/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;

The Multiverse allegory has been particularly embraced by the world of Science-Fiction (Sci-Fi). The Marvel Universe, the D.C Universe. All the movies, TV shows and comic-books those have spawned.

Everything Everywhere All At Once uses Science-Fiction to look at how westerners, particularly Americans, might have been introduced to Asian culture. Even if they did not realise that they were being introduced to Asian culture.

In the script the malevolent, all consuming force is named as; "Jobu Tupaki" which is pronounced a lot like; "Chewbacca." The Wookie character from the Star Wars franchise. Although I do not think that name is ever properly pronounced that way. Or, indeed, the same way twice. 

Highlighting how spoken Chinese is a complex tonal language. To the point that prior to the Commission on the Unification of Pronounciation (Dúyīn Tǒngyī Huì/讀音統一會) adopting Mandarin as the standard pronunciation in 1932 (Yin Metal 辛 Goat 未) most Chinese people couldn't understand each other. Needless to say Chinese is often just completely mangled by foreigners when they attempt to speak it.

The Star Wars director George Lucas makes no secret of the fact that he is a big fan of the work of the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa particularly worked in a genre known as; "Jidaigeki (時代劇)." Literally translating as; "Period Dramas" many of these are set around the time Japan's; "Warring States Period (Sengoku/戦国時代) gave way to its; "Edo Period (Edo Jidai/江戸時代)."

The Star Wars universe, particularly the first movie; "Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope (1977)," isn't so much influenced by as directly stolen from one Kurosawa movie in particular. 1958's "The Three Villains of the Hidden Fortress (Kakushi Toride no San Akunin/隠し砦の三悪人)."

The Three Villiains of the Hidden Fortress tells the story of two peasants: "Tahei" and; "Matashichi" who are cast off into the desert during the Warring States Period. They are befriended by a Shogun; "Makabe Rokurota" and a Princess; "Yuki Akizuki" who are in disguise.

In Star Wars the Shogun and the Princess are; "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and; "Princess Leia." While the pairing of Tahei and Matashichi are both the lowly worker Droids; "R2D2" and; "C3PO" and the money driven smugglers; "Han Solo" and; "Chewbacca."

The "Jedi" in Star Wars are a play on; "Jidaigeki." Their robes are just Samurai robes. While their battle between the Light and the Dark side of the Force is the quest for balance between Ying and Yang central to all Asian Animist belief systems. Particularly Taoism/Daoism.

A movie which attempts to show how everything which has happened. Along with everything that will happen. Is actually happening now. All at once. That really doesn't lend itself to a linear explanation. So bear with me.

However there is a scene in a side-office with the Evelyn, Alpha-Waymond and Alpha-Gong Gong characters. In which Evelyn says; "These are not the people you are looking for!" 

A play on that line from Star Wars; "Are these the Droids you are looking for?" A quote so famous even people like me who haven't seen any of the Star Wars movies instantly recognise it.

Everything Everywhere All At Once's version of the Multiverse holds that every time a person makes a decision then a new universe is created. Containing the alternate decision. So if someone chooses to turn left. Then a universe is created in which they turn right.

People in one of the universes which they call the; "Alpha Universe" discovered that they can jump between all these different universes. When they do their mind inhabits the version of themselves which exists in that universe. So you can have the Waymond from the Alpha universe leaping into the body of the Waymond in the Beta universe and so on. Across an infinite number of universes.

It's during the scene in the side-office with Alpha-Gong Gong Evelyn tries to explain this. Likening it to the 2007 Disney movie; "Ratatouille." In which a chef's body is controlled by a Rat hiding underneath his hat.

However Evelyn has clearly mistaken the Rat in the movie for a Racoon. So ends up calling the movie; "Racacoony." Another joke about the difficultly immigrants face in learning the language of their adopted homeland. A particularly acute problem if their first language is a complex tonal one. Such as Chinese.

Of course if a Chinese immigrant to the US has emigrated from somewhere like Hong Kong or Taiwan. Then they'll be trying to learn English as a third language. Behind Cantonese and Mandarin.

Evelyn's mistake also serves as a reference to the; "Racoon City" which is central to "Resident Evil" series of computer games. Along with computer games more generally. 

These are almost exclusively made in Japan by Japanese people. The Opening Ceremony of the delayed 2020 Summer Para-Olympics finally showed the World the Japanese face of the famous computer game voice actor; "Max Power."

The Resident Evil computer games were made into a series of movies. Featuring, amongst others, Michelle Rodriguez. 

Michelle Rodriguez also played the riot police fighting; "Lou" in the 2007 movie; "Battle in Seattle." Which dramatized the (not necessarily anti) WTO protests which began in Seattle, Washington State, US on November 30th (N30) 1999.

Between the first Resident Evil movie (2002) and Battle in Seattle Michelle Rodriguez appeared in the 2003 movie version of the US TV show; "S.W.A.T." In which she played the; "Christina 'Chris' Alonso" character.

If this were Oscars coverage. Then those would probably be rather important details to remember.

Of course the Jidaigeki movies which Star Wars stole from. Along with all of the computer games like Resident Evil. They are examples of Japanese culture. Which, despite also being Asian, is definitely not to be confused with Chinese culture.

As Japan emerged from its Warring States Period into the Edo Period it adopted the Tokugawa Class System. Which shaped the very rigid, very polite, very deferential culture which still exists in Japan to this day. While Chinese culture seems to be largely built around yelling.

Apparently being told that you're getting fat or that you need to let your hair grow. Those are just the Chinese way of saying; "I love you."

The story of how the malevolent all consuming force Jobu Tupaki came into being. That is identical to the origin story of the; "River Tam" character. Played by Summer Glau in the 2002 US TV show; "Firefly" along with the 2005 movie spin-off; "Serenity."

The River Tam character is itself an exploration of mental illness. Particularly Schizophrenia. Ancient Greek for; "Splitting of the Mind." Something Everything Everywhere All At Once also explores. Through the cracked lens and the clay pot.

Firefly was a shortlived project by Joss Whedon. It overlapped with his 1997-2003 breakthrough show; "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." Which we've now since learnt was secretly produced by Dolly Parton.

Whilst Season 4 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer was in production. A Delusional Schizophrenic with a pair of Samurai swords attacked my childhood neighbourhood Church. Whilst my mother and father were attending a Sunday service. 

This guy genuinely believed that beneath the Church a portal to a sort Hell dimension had opened. Through this Hellmouth all sorts of demons and monsters were flooding into this dimension. So he had to protect everyone by battling the demons and monsters with his swords. In order to reach and close the portal to this Hell dimension.

In short, he genuinely believed that he was living in the universe of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Or something very close to it.

The even stranger bit though is that this was a planned attack by the UK Security/Intelligence Services on the TV show. In its first three seasons it had already proved itself rather interested in me.

I thought the TV show responded rather well. Telling the story in the Season 4 Episodes 15/16 "This Year's Girl/Who Are You?" Rather like the "Riley Finn" character I would have been in the Church at the time of the attack, if I hadn't overslept.

Although driven exclusively by his Delusional Schizophrenia this Scottish guy was Brown skinned and of nominally Muslim heritage. So as well as being an attack on the TV show. The incident was also supposed to serve as a general warning about the growing threat of terrorism from that Mujahedeen stew left in Afghanistan

That warning was repeated at the start of 2001. With bravery awards being given at the City of London's New Year's Day Parade. Gazetted on the Mayor of the City of London's Roll of Honour.

As we all learned around September 2001. The most prominent terror group to emerge from Afghanistan's Mujahedeen stew was Al Qaeda. 

In August 1998 Al Qaeda attacked US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The US responded with "Operation: Infinite Reach." A series of missile strikes against Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and Sudan. 

That was something Buffy The Vampire Slayer explored in the final two episodes of Season 4. "Primeval (21)" and "Restless (22)." The Black skin and white bodypaint of the Primeval character invoking the so-called; "White Army" of the Nuer Tribe based in that; "Cradle of Humanity." Located in the Horn of Africa, around modern day Sudan.

With their name translating as; "The Base" Al Qaeda wasn't actually formed to be a terror group. So much as a support structure for other terror groups. One of the original terror groups Al Qaeda supported is the Turkestan Islamist Party (TiP). 

The TiP want to create the Islamist nation of Turkestan in China's New Frontier (Xinjiang/西域新疆) Province. Firefly is Joss Whedon's exploration of China's New Frontier Province and the Islamist terror threat posed by the TiP.

Firefly is set in a distant future where the US government and the Chinese government have united into a single Earth government. That Totalitarian government has then set about colonising distant planets and galaxies. All across the Universe.

Just beyond the new frontier of the Totalitarian government lay these almost mythical, unseen monsters known as; "Reavers." Which is pronounced almost exactly the same as; "Uighurs" as the ethnically Turkic Muslims of China's Xinjiang are known.

Exploring the history of a Chinese Province Firefly looks at many aspects of Asian and particularly Chinese culture. For example all of the characters are bilingual. Speaking both English and Cantonese. Which I think made it the first show on a major US network to feature Cantonese dialogue.

However in the show the bilingualism is used primarily to get around the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) ban on swearing. So if the characters want to swear they simply swear in Cantonese, in the hope the FCC wouldn't understand.

Meaning that not only was Firefly the first show on a major US network to feature Cantonese dialogue. I think it remains the most foul mouthed Cantonese TV show ever made, anywhere in the World.

Firefly's almost unprecedented onscreen exploration of Asian culture is particularly true of the final episode; "Objects In Space," Season 1, Episode 14. Which centres around the River Tam character.

As I've said the Ancient Greeks were really the first ones to write down their attempts to explain the Universe. Alongside the Multiverse allegory these attempts to explain the Animist concept that everything is happening all at once include the philosophy of; "Stoicism."

If Stoicism can be summed up in a single paragraph. It is that with everything, everywhere and everywhen happening all at once life has no meaning. Other than the good that you can draw from life.

In 19th Century Europe the philosophy of Stoicism gave rise to the philosophy of; "Existentialism." If that can be summed up in a single paragraph it is that with everything, everywhere and everywhen happening all at once life has no meaning. Other than the meaning you assign to it.

In 20th Century Europe the philosophy of Existentialism gave rise to the philosophy of; "Nihilism." If that can be summed up in a single sentence it is that with everything, everywhere and everywhen happening all at once life has no meaning.

The Objects In Space episode of Firefly begins with River Tam sitting amongst a forest (木木木) or grove (木木) of Cherry Blossoms. Serenely holding a piece of wood in her hands. However when the same scene is viewed by the other characters River Tam is sitting in the ship's hold. Dangerously waving a handgun around.

Across many Asian Animist belief systems, particularly Buddhism, the Lotus Flower is seen as a metaphor for the journey towards enlightenment. It emerges from seed beneath the dark waters before growing towards the light and coming into full bloom.

However the bloom of the Lotus Flower is shortlived. A symbol of; "Mono No Aware (The Pathos of Things)" or; "Memento Mori (Remember That You Must Die)." That everything in life is temporary and fleeting.

Particularly in Japan the Cherry Blossom is used in a similar way to the Lotus Flower.

So that scene in Firefly looks concepts of Asian Animist belief system as explained in the allegory of the Lotus Flower/Cherry Blossom. Comparing it to the explanation offered through the European philosophy of Existentialism. With a hefty dose of Delusional Schizophrenia thrown in.

At around 17:20 on 29/3/23 (UK date) I think it's up to you to find the dimension where I've already finished this. 

Edited at around 17:35 on 30/3/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;

I didn't watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer until 2020. I didn't even hear about Firefly until around 2010. While it technically can't take the Sky away. The National Heritage Act of 1983 can certainly remove the satellite receiver dish.

So it must have been around 2009 that I found myself at some sort of gathering with my extended family. With the conversation starting to falter someone asked; "Has anyone watched anything good on TV?" Which for people who don't work in the entertainment industry is an entirely innocuous question.

With no other conversational volunteers to be found. I started talking about; "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." Thinking that the Terminator franchise is so vast that someone, anyone must have something to say about it. Even just another Arnold Schwarzenegger movie they'd seen.

Still getting absolutely nothing. I was left trying to fill the silence talking about how much the physicality of Summer Glau's performance had impressed me. She played one of the Terminator cyborgs. Giving her the challenge of appearing human, but also not quite human onscreen.

Having not even heard of Firefly at that point, let alone Summer Glau's role in it. I actually did a quick risk assessment first.

Thinking that I'd seen her in a small role in; "The Unit." Along with in this small Sci-Fi TV show. So the worst that could happen is that it would start a rumour that I was impressed by this new young actress. Perhaps prompting some casting directors to call her in for auditions to see for themselves. Possibly leading to her getting more work. 

I am still astounded by the extent to which I got that just completely wrong. 

That may well have been the moment Megan Fox first became aware of me. When her then husband Brian Austin Green's paychecks suddenly stopped arriving.

Joss Whedon went on to do the TV show; "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." A spin-off from the 2012 "Avengers" movie it is very much part of the Marvel Universe.

The 2018 Winter Olympics/Para-Olympics were held in PyeongChang in the Republic of Korea (RoK/South). Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D was much talked about at those games. With the Korean-American Snowboarder Chloe Kim serving as something of an avatar for the Chinese-American Chloe Bennet, one of the core cast members of Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.

Amid the #OscarsSoWhite campaign Chloe Bennet found herself singled out. For the 'crime' of whitewashing her Chinese heritage. Dropping her birth name, Chloe Wang, in favour of the stage-name, Chloe Bennet. I think we were all just stunned by the stupidity of it all.

In Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D Chloe Bennet's character (of so many names) is a "0-8-4," an object of unknown origin. She grew up in the foster care system. You couldn't even go so far as to describe her as an orphan. It's not even known whether her parents are alive, let alone who they are.

So the character's storyline arc is very much that Existential quest for identity and meaning. At various points she wonders whether one or both of her parents were White. Whether one or both of them were Hispanic. Whether one or both of her parents were Asian.

All of which would obviously be ruined. If the very first thing you saw in the opening credits of the very first episode was the name; "Chloe Wang."

Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D continues Joss Whedon's genuine and respectful interest in Asian and particularly Chinese culture. Which began with that Samurai sword attack and Firefly.

Eventually we are enlightened that like the actress Chloe Bennet's character is mixed-race. She has a White American father and a Chinese mother. "Jiaying (贾盈)," played by the Nepalese-born, Australian-Nepalese actress Dichen Lachman.

Chloe Bennet's character, then; "Skye," finally meets her mother in; "Afterlife (Lai Shi/來世). A hidden refuge in the Nepalese mountains.  

China's New Frontier Province Autonomous Region (Xinjiang/新疆维吾尔自治区) is bordered to the South by China's Tibet Autonomous Region (Xīzàng Zìzhìqū/西藏自治区). Separated by the Kunlun Mountains(昆仑山). Tibet borders Nepal to the South-West. Separated by the Himalaya Mountains.

The hidden mountain refuge of Afterlife or Next Life is intended to educate viewers about Shambala and the Beyul from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Within Tibetan Buddhism Shambala is a spiritual dimension. It is said to be where the next incarnation of Vishnu, the Pervader, protector of the Universe from chaos, will emerge. 

Followers of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism believe that Padmasambhava ([the one] Born of the Lotus) created Shambala as a real place on Earth, the Beyul. Hidden mountain refuges which are partly in this dimension. Partly in the spiritual dimension.

Shambala and the Beyul was the inspiration for; "Shangri-La" portrayed in the 1933 James Hilton novel; "Lost Horizon." Which he located in the Kunlun Mountains.

If that wasn't enough Asian influence for one US TV show. Alongside Joss Whedon one of the show's co-creators is Maurissa Tancharoen, a Thai-American.

Another of the core cast of Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D is the Macau-born, Chinese-American actress Ming-na Wen. The only attempt she has made to westernise her Chinese identity is allowing her given name to appear before her family name. In the Chinese tradition she is known as Wen Ming-na (溫明娜). It's up to you to learn how to pronounce it.

There is a sort of long running joke in Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. About a will-they, won't-they love affair between Ming-na Wen's character and Clark Gregg's "Agent Caulson" character. 

A joke about the 'Director's' (Joss Whedon) apparent love affair with all things Chinese. Maurissa Tancharoen is Joss Whedon's sister-in-law. Married to the show's other co-creator, Jed Whedon.

So that was really the wrong actress and the wrong TV show to be attacking. For hiding Asian identity and culture. 

At around 18:05 on 30/3/23 (UK date) Friday means chores. 

Edited at around 15:55 on 1/4/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;

As I was discovering Buffy The Vampire Slayer for the very first time. Rumours began to circulate accusing Joss Whedon of on-set bullying. 

These allegations extended into his work the Marvel Universe. Including against Israeli actress and military veteran Gal Gadot. Which really can't have been a shouting match he ever thought he was going to win.

Obviously I've had to study both Firefly and Serenity. As if I was prepping for trial.

Included as an extra on the UK DVD release of Firefly is a cast reunion dinner. Showing how everyone is still one big, happy family. Even before hearing the rumours that did seem like overcompensating.

Early in Serenity the River Tam character is established through a big martial arts fight scene. Included on the UK DVD is a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of that scene. The stunt coordinator talks a lot about Summer Glau's background as a dancer, until a toe injury forced her to retire. How that experience was useful with the fight scene being choreographed, rehearsed and acted out like a dance routine.

This is something I noticed about Jaimie Alexander who plays "Lady Sif" in the Marvel Universe. Often when you see, particularly, actresses in action roles. Such as Summer Glau or Cote de Pablo, who played "Ziva David" in the US TV show; "NCIS" they move like dancers. Jaimie Alexander however moves like a fighter.

Of course I come from a large medical family. One of my mothers was a Physiotherapist. While my sister was not only a Health Care Assistant (HCA). She was the HCA who helped rehabilitate the actual Darth Vader (David Prowse) following hip replacement surgery. Noticing how people move and carry themselves is, obviously, very important to that. As it is to Cavalletti training horses.

So it's something I'm quite attuned to. I'M NOT WEIRD!

At the 2021 Oscars there was a lot of discussion about nude and sex scenes. In the wake of the #MeToo/#TimesUp campaigns these were over how to better protect the people who have to appear in those scenes. The use of; "Intimacy Coordinators" etc.

I view the role of an Intimacy Coordinator as being similar to a Stunt Coordinator. With nude/sex scenes being planned in advance, risk assessed, discussed and rehearsed. As if they were fight scenes or dance routines.

Obviously I do not work in the entertainment industry. I am not an actor. So I'm not sure how valid my opinion is. 

However if I were able to work with someone who, famously, got her big break in a long-running TV show. Along with someone who has a couple of movies and now an Oscar nomination under her belt. I like to think I would be able to help refine the idea.

In Everything Everywhere All At Once much of the battle against Jobu Tupaki takes place in the IRS building. Its open-plan offices, side-offices, boardroom and breakrooms. Along with Alpha-Gong Gong's bionic exoskeleton this is all a reference to the movie; "Office Uprising" (2018).

Office Uprising is another of the small roles that Jane Levy has had to suffer through. Due to the misfortune of her, somehow, entering this dimension as the manifestation of both of my bisexual ex-girlfriends.

By which I don't mean two bisexual women I was once in a so-called; "Throuple" with. I mean two successive bisexual women I was in two successive throuples with. I assure all those involved that both of those throuples existed in entirely separate frames of time. It would be scientifically impossible for them to have overlapped.

More recently Jane Levy has been able to find more steady work. In the US TV show; "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist."

Season 1 of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist was first broadcast in the UK from early March 2020 through to late May 2020. So that period where we started hearing rumours about this place called Wuhan in China. Then went into Lockdown. Then emerged from Lockdown.

I'm tempted to preserve it all on my DVR. Simply for the wild ride that is the commercial breaks.

In the show Jane Levy plays "Zoey Clarke." That rarest of things, a female computer programmer. Even more extraordinary her department head at the Silicon Valley, Facebook-like Big Tech company is also a female computer programmer. Played by Lauren Graham.

Amongst Zoey's childish and misogynistic coworkers there is the Indian-American "Tobin." Played by the Indian-born, Indian-American actor Kapil Talwalkar. Zoey's two sister-in-laws are Asian-American. Played by Alice Lee and Jee Young Han. Making for a nice bit of Asian visibility onscreen.

Somewhat like Jade Emperor Zoey Clarke has a supernatural power. She can gift strangers the skill of Felicity. The ability to properly express their thoughts and emotions. Which they do through so-called; "Heart Songs."  The pop-song that is stuck in their heads.

Meaning that three or four times an episode everything breaks out into a big song and dance number. Often featuring Mandy Moore's rather handsy choreography.

In the second season there is actually a very tame, FCC regulated, sex scene. Which is played out as a choreographed dance routine. Which I thought was a useful contribution to the debate over how to better protect the people who appear in such scenes.

It must be said though. That for me, watching Jane Levy in any form of nude or sex scene is a uniquely uncomfortable experience. It's not as though I can pretend that I don't find her attractive. I often find myself sitting there quietly muttering;

"She looks the same, but it's a different person."

"She looks the same, but it's a different person."

"She looks the same, but it's a different person."   

At around 17:00 on 1/4/23 (UK date) I see if I can finish this part of Monday. 

Edited at around 16:35 on 4/4/23 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and add;

It's never going to fit.

 

 

 

To be continued in Part 2.

17:30 on 4/4/23 (UK date).

 

The 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony Pt.6.

To be read as a direct continuation of Part 5; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-2022-winter-olympics-closing.html

This sequence was a direct reference to a section in the Closing Ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympic Closing Ceremony. The "Athletes Arrive" section.

In covering that Closing Ceremony I compared the section to a sequence in the 1981 movie; "Raiders of the Lost Ark." In which the Nazis open the Ark of the Covenant. Only for ghost or demon-like spirits to emerge killing them all.

I still do not think that Japan was intentionally referencing the movie. It was just something of a jumping-off point I thought of to help explain what was a very immersive visual experience. However it certainly wouldn't be an insult to Japan making the comparison. 

Nazism is/was so much more than a political ideology. It also has this deep cult-like, quasi-religious element to it. With its basis in the occult and the supernatural.

The paramilitary wing of the German Nazi Party, the Schutstaffel (SS), had its own dedicated Occultist. Karl Maria Wiligut. A diagnosed but untreated Schizophrenic. So you'll excuse me if this doesn't make a lot of sense.

Nazi ideology really had two occult strands to it. Theozoology and Arisophy.

Theozoology was advanced by Jorg Lands-Liebenfels. It proposed that the Aryan race was an alien master race known as the; "Theozoa." The Theozoa emerged from stars and reproduced through electricity. 

Here on Earth the Theozoa were subjected to forcible interbreeding, rape essentially, with the inferior race of Ape-Men known as; "Anthropozoa." Causing them to lose their supernatural powers.

In that sense Theozoology is rather similar to the ideology of the Nation of Islam (NoI) cult. Which now seems to be accepted as mainstream within US society.

It is from Theozoology that the Nazis took their desire to restore the purity of the Aryan or Theozoa race. Through the sterilization, imprisonment and eventual extermination of the inferior Ape-Man or Anthropozoa race. 

Although the Black population of Europe was not seen by the Nazis as significant enough to warrant a specific policy during their Holocaust. Members of the Black race, particularly the men, were seen as the most Ape-Men like and therefore the biggest threat.

One of Nazi Germany's first eugenics programs was the sterilisation of the so-called; "Rhineland Bastards." Mixed raced children who'd been fathered by French troops of African descent following the First World War. According to Nazi propaganda these Ape-Men could only have raped pure-blood Aryan women.

Arisophy was advanced by Guido von List. It draws from ancient Europe Animist or; "Pagan" belief systems. As with ancient Asian Animist belief systems it has at its core that the Universe, God, Humans and Nature are one and the same. All imbued with the same magical spirit.

Arisophy holds that these ancient Pagan beliefs and festivals were appropriated by the Roman invaders as a form of enslavement.

Something which isn't an entirely unreasonable belief. Halloween being a Christian appropriation of Samhain. A Celtic festival marking the mid-point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Christmas being a Christian appropriation of the Celtic celebration of the Winter Solstice. Easter being a Christian appropriation of the Germanic Pagan festival of Eostre. Welcoming the arrival of the Spring goddess.

However Ariosphy believes that the ancient Germanic Runic Alphabet, the "F-U-T-H-A-R-K" alphabet is a magical cipher to unlock this hidden ancient knowledge. With each letter or; "Rune" of the alphabet being imbued with magical powers.

The human population could be divided into two groups. Those anointed with knowledge "Gnosis" who controlled the lesser peoples through; "Wotan." Only though studying the Runic cipher could the lesser people develop Gnosis.

In that sense Ariosphy is rather similar to the ideology of the Christian Protestant Puritans. Along with the Nation of Islam (NoI) cult. Which now seems to be accepted as mainstream with US society.

This is why the Nazi military, particularly the Waffen SS, adopted these runes as their insigna. "Doppeite Siegrune" supposedly imbuing the wearer with Victory. "Hagal" imbuing the wearer with Faith (in Nazism).  "Odal" imbuing the wearer with Blood (racial) Purity.

These runes are also used as the insignia of the modern Ukrainian Armed Forces. Particularly the Odal rune for the Svoboda Battalion. "Leben" for Life, "Tod" for Death, "Wolfsangel" for Liberty and "Heilzeichen" for Prosperity all also being extremely popular. In proud reference to the Ukrainian Armed Forces origins as part of the Waffen SS.

Due to this obsession with the occult and the supernatural Nazi Germany did actually carry out operations searching for lost relics. Such as the Ark of the Covenant. Thinking that possessing them would imbue them with supernatural powers with which to defeat their enemies.

It is also this obsession, particularly Guido von List's interest in Asian Animist beliefs that saw the Nazis appropriate their most famous symbol. The Swastika.

Throughout this near decade long stay in Asia we have looked at things which are common between different cultures. Both things which have started in one place then spread. Along with things with have spontaneously emerged in different cultures, independently of each other.

The Swastika symbol is something which has emerged spontaneously in almost every culture. There is hardly a part of the World where you can't find examples. The only thing that all of these different cultures have in common is the planet and the sky that they all share.

The Swastika (卐) or technically; "Sauwastika" (卍) shows the perceived movement of the Chariot constellation (Plough, Big Dipper) around the Celestial North Pole. The stars are only visible at night so the Swastika being the reverse of the Sauwastika represents the reverse of night, day. The Sun.

Nazi Ariosphy was built around the notion of Sun Gods. Particularly inspired by the Norse goddess; "Sol." A life-giving entity that anointed Earthly Priests as leaders. 

Guido von List was also deeply interested in Hinduism. In which the Swastika is seen as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. It is particularly used to bring good luck to new ventures.

So the Nazis appropriated the Swastika from Hinduism as their main symbol. Thinking it would imbue them with good fortune.

The 2012 Summer Games were held in London, UK. Essentially at my mothers' house. That's just how far the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have to go for talent to even notice they exist.

Shortly before the 2012 Summer Games one of my mothers retired from her job at the local hospital. As I'm sure everyone involved in the security operation remembers. The main trauma centre closest to the 2012 Olympic/Para-Olympic Park is in an area with a very large South Asian community. Including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Jainists. 

When my mother retired many of her colleagues and patients gave her cards and gifts. Wishing her good fortune in the next chapter of her life.

So one day I found myself. White, shaven-headed and somewhat muscular. Sitting in a room surrounded by just all the Swastikas thinking;

"If someone takes a photograph now."

"Without the proper context. This is going to look really bad."

My momentary concern must be nothing though. Compared to the frustration felt by the millions of followers of these Asian belief systems. 

Who are suddenly no longer able to use a key symbol they've been using for tens of thousands of years. Simply because it was misused by a small group of lunatics in Europe for less than two decades in the mid-20th Century.

Within Chinese Animist beliefs the Sauwastika/Swastika is considered the; "Heavens Gate" or; "Tianmen." The portal by which it is possible to travel between this dimension and the dimension of the gods.

The Swastika is actually a character or letter in both the Chinese and Japanese written languages. So to them this post-Nazi taboo on using the Swastika. Must seem like users of the Latin/Roman alphabet suddenly being told they can no longer use the letter; "H."

However, to be fair. Both the Chinese and Japanese written languages do have quite a few other letters to choose from. 

Although as with Blackface. I don't think I'm really the right person to be leading the campaign to bring back the Swastika.

At around 18:00 on 4/2/23 (UK date) I'll try and finish this up on Monday now.

Edited at around 17:20 on 6/2/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;

In heavily referencing the "Athletes Arrive" section of Japan's 2020 Olympic Closing Ceremony. China was trying to show the similarities between Japanese and Chinese interpretations of Animist beliefs.

So Japanese Shinto has the elemental forces of the Kami. Particularly the first two generations of Kami. The Kotomatukami (Distinguished Heavenly Kami) and the Kamiyo-nanayo (Seven Generations of the Age of Gods).

While Chinese mythology has Tayi (the Supreme God of High Heaven) along with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Alongside Lung (Dragons). Which are elemental forces similar to Kami which can manifest themselves as really anything they like. Not just snakes with legs and scales.

China was also trying to highlight its technological inferiority to Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK/South). The Athletes Arrive section of the 2020 Closing Ceremony was Japan showing itself to be that little bit more technologically advanced than its great rival South Korea.

China is not ashamed of acknowledging that it is less technologically advanced as either Japan or South Korea. China knows that it is still very much an Economically Developing Country. It is the Workshop of the World, building the designs of nations like Japan and South Korea.

However China sees itself as and is a rapidly Economically Developing Country. Starting to move away from simply building other people's designs to building its own designs. In doing this China has faced a lot of, sometimes legitimate, criticism over Intellectual Property Theft. Its designs looking very much like other people's designs.

One area where China has particularly tried to move to building its own designs is through household appliances and white goods. Washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, freezers, vacuum cleaners, even TVs. 

Through companies like Hisense their business model is built around doing it cheaper than the established brands. Targeting consumers in the developing world. A category into which most Chinese consumers fit. People who would otherwise only be able to buy secondhand or not be able to buy at all.

Back in January 2022 I was still covering the 2020 Olympic Closing Ceremony while everyone was preparing for the 2022 Olympic Opening Ceremony. When my washing machine broke. Plunging me right into the middle of this issue. As I decided whether to buy new and if so which brand. Along with whether to get the old one repaired so it could be sold second hand.

After considering all of the important criteria. Things like price, size, load capacity and energy usage. I ended up buying a new Hoover (Ohio, US) washing machine with Bluetooth connectivity.

Bluetooth technology being named after Harald "Bluetooth" Gromsson. King of Denmark and Norway. A user of the ancient Germanic Runic alphabet.

To this day I do not know why my washing machine has Bluetooth.

In all my years of doing laundry. Never once have I put all the laundry into the basket, carried it down to the machine. Loaded it into the machine along with the detergent and found myself thinking;

"What I really need to do now is to go back upstairs to get my cellphone."

"Rather than using all of these buttons, right here in front of me."

I was very tempted not to buy it in protest of the fact they'd added Bluetooth to it. Although that seemed a bit self-defeating as it met all of the other, more important, criteria.

Of course when a leading US, Japanese or South Korean manufacturer is being forced to add Bluetooth to a washing machine as a marketing gimmick. In order to make it stand out from all the other washing machines.

You should know that there are only so many ways in which the designs of white goods like washing machines can vary.

In much the same way that there are only so many ways in which Chinese and Japanese interpretations of Animist beliefs can vary. Dealing as they do with the same elemental design of the Universe.

 

 

To be continued in Part 7.

18:00 on 6/2/23 (UK date).

The 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony. Pt.5

To be read as a direct continuation of Part 4;

https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-2022-winter-olympics-closing.html

Seriously, Who Else Are They Going To Call II.

As we learned during the ceremonies of the delayed 2020 Summer Games. My paternal grandfather had something of a sketchy military career.

He attended the inauguration of the 1st Special Service Force. Widely recognised as the first, modern Special Operations Force (SOF).

He was also part of the close protection detail for Lord Louis Mountbatten. When Lord Mountbatten represented Britain and its Empire at the signing of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri at the end of World War Two. Following the only times that nuclear weapons have ever been used in anger.

However if you look at any of the footage or photographs of that historic moment. You will not see my grandfather. He was mysteriously taken ill that day.

Something which allowed his career to continue right up until his death. Extracting the Governor-General of Grenada from the 1979 Revolution being one of his final performances.

Of course at that time he wasn't part of any military at all. Officially he was a builder's merchant. Almost exactly like that famous Two Ronnies "Four Candles" sketch. Only with plastic explosives.

As we learned during the Opening Ceremony of these 2022 Winter Olympics. World War Two was really only something which happened in the middle of The Chinese Civil War (1927-1949).

The Chinese Civil War ended in victory for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who established the People's Republic of China (PRC). The, essentially, Fascist Kuomintang (KMT) went into exile on the Chinese island of Taiwan.

This caused the US to redefine China. To mean only KMT controlled Taiwan. In US diplomatic circles the vast landmass that everyone else recognises as China simply did not exist.

During World War Two the US and the Soviet Union were allied with each other. With the Soviet Union liberating the northern part of the Korean Peninsula from Imperial Japanese occupation. While the US liberated the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

However at the end of World War Two the US and the Soviet Union fell out with each other, becoming enemies. Marking the start of The Cold War (1947-1991). 

This saw the Soviet Union establish the Communist nation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North) in the part of the Korean Peninsula they controlled. While the US established the Capitalist nation of the Republic of Korea (RoK/South) in the part of the Korean Peninsula they controlled.

In 1950 Communist China and the Soviet Union pushed North Korea to invade South Korea. Marking the start of The Korean War (1950-1953). A war which, technically, is still going on. 1953 only brought an armistice or ceasefire rather than a full peace agreement.

During the Korean War the US became obsessed with; "Domino Theory." That Communism is such a brilliant idea that if one nation in Asia was allowed to fall to Communism. Then all nations in Asia would quickly fall to Communism.

This Domino Theory prompted the US to back France as it fought The First Indochina War (1946-1954). Fighting against the Communist China and Soviet Union backed League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh). Led by Ho Chi Minh who had been trained by the US to fight Imperial Japan during World War Two.

Following France's defeat in the First Indochina War the US immediately stepped in to fight the Viet Minh in The Second Indochina War (1955-1973). Which, in America at least, is more commonly known as The Vietnam War.

Almost immediately after starting the Second Indochina War the US realised what France had realised during the First Indochina War. They could not win. So they had to keep fighting until an opportunity arose for them to withdraw without it looking like they'd been defeated.

This opportunity presented itself in 1968. When Soviet Russia invaded Czechoslovakia to crush The Prague Spring. This sent shockwaves across the Communist Second World. Causing a huge spilt between the Viet Minh's two main backers. The Soviet Union and Communist China.

The US realised that it could capitalise on this split to end its Vietnam War. So after years of behind-the-scenes diplomacy US President Richard Nixon visited Communist China in 1972. Finally recognising Communist China as China.

The US has never disputed that Taiwan is part of China. They have merely disputed that China is part of China.

Obviously Britain was very interested in the biggest thing to happen in US-China relations since 1949. So they called upon my grandfather's son, my father.

He was dispatched to Beijing in and around January 28th 1973 (28/1/1973). The date on which the US' Vietnam War finally ended. Officially he was part of a trade delegation selling fax machines.

Ending the Vietnam War wasn't the only reason behind President Nixon's visit to China. It was part of a much wider policy of engagement with China. The thinking being that recognising China and starting to trade with China would increase wealth in China. In turn creating a middle-class that would be less tolerant of the Totalitarianism of Communism.

The US was greatly aided in this effort by the death of Chairman Mao Zedong in 1976. Chairman Mao was replaced by Deng Xiaoping. Mao Zedong Thought by the Chinese Communist Party was replaced by Den Xiaoping Thought by the Chinese Communist Party. 

Central to Deng Xiaoping's thought was that China was still at The Primary Stage of Socialism. That it must use markets and Capitalism to go through industrialisation. In order to arrive at the point where Capitalism can be replaced with Communism.

So Deng Xiaoping was very keen to open China up to trade with the Capitalist First World. Far keener than President Nixon could have ever imagined.

Deng Xiaoping's reforms along with the US' recognition and engagement with China were incredibly successful. A new middle-class quickly emerged and started demanding more freedoms and democratic reforms.

These demands for freedom organised themselves into the 1989 Democracy Movement. Holding protests in over 400 Chinese cities. Most notably Beijing's Tiananmen Square where they were crushed by the Chinese Communist Party. Four years after Britain had crushed the democracy movement in Hong Kong.

The 1989 Democracy Movement marked the end of Deng Xiaoping's leadership. He was replaced by Jiang Zemin.

Although it was never officially published as a Thought by the Chinese Communist Party. Jiang Zemin's rule ushered in a new social contract between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people. The era of Totalitarian Capitalism.

Under Totalitarian Capitalism increased wealth stopped being the driver of demands for more freedoms. Instead it became the compensation for a lack of freedom.

Despite China shifting from Deng Xiaoping thought to Totalitarian Capitalism. The Capitalist First World's relationship with China did not shift accordingly. Nations and private corporations continued to trade with China exactly as they had done before the crushing of the 1989 Democracy Movement. 

At around 17:45 on 21/1/23 (UK date) I'll try and pick this up on Monday now.

Edited at around 18:30 on 24/1/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;

That changed in January 2018. When US President Donald Trump launched his trade war with China. 

Without getting too bogged down in the granular sector-by-sector, business-by-business detail. These so-called; "Trump Tariffs" saw the US impose tariffs and other restrictions on Chinese imports. The intention being to break global supply-chains dependence on China. Making it more affordable for corporations to return their manufacturing to the US.

In the process rebalancing the US-China Trade Deficit. Restoring America's reward for being a Libertarian Capitalist nation. While removing China's compensation for being a Totalitarian Capitalist nation.

In order to signify the objective of rebalancing the relationship with China. In light of the changes in China since President Nixon visited in 1972. President Trump also began engaging with North Korea. In June 2019 becoming the first US President to set foot in North Korea. Just as President Nixon became the first US President to set foot in China.

Obviously Britain was very interested in the biggest thing to happen in US-China relations since 1972. So they called upon my father's son, me.

However Britain had already proved themselves so incompetent. That they couldn't even get it together enough in 2007 for me to help them with a small Community Mental Health Rehabilitation Project. Despite the involvement of the actual Ronnie Corbett.

That failure came two years after Britain had revoked my passport.

So Britain obviously couldn't dispatch me to Hong Kong in person. So they tried to have me represent them in spirit. Manifesting in the form of the Firestorm of the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests.

The 2014 Hong Kong Protests were defined by the use of umbrellas. Leading them to be dubbed; "The Umbrella Protests." In reference to the 2007 Rihanna song; "Umbrella." How the US had attempted to use Rihanna's 2013 Diamonds World Tour (DWT). In order to disrupt that year's COP19 Climate Change Summit.

The 2019-2020 Hong Protests were defined by the sort of, almost, uniform the participants wore. Made up of boots, combat/cargo pants, Hoodie tops, construction worker/builder's helmets, safety goggles and surgical facemasks.

In light of the 2020 Pandemic the use of surgical facemasks seems particularly interesting.

At the start of the Olympic/Para-Olympics' near decade long stay in Asia. At the 2018 Winter Games South Korea introduced us to things which are common throughout Asia. 

While at the delayed 2020 Summer Games Japan looked at things which are common throughout the World. Both things which have started in once place and spread. Along with things that have spontaneously appeared in different, unconnected places. 

The wearing of surgical facemasks by the public is something which started in Japan. Then spread throughout Asia. Then, in 2020, throughout the World.

In complete contrast to Chinese culture. Japanese culture is very deferential and very polite. In comparison even the manners obsessed British are considered oafs and loudmouths.

If you are ill in Japan it would be considered hugely disrespectful not to turn up to work anyway. However it would also be considered the height of rudeness to inflict your germs on other people. So the wearing of surgical facemasks has been common in Japan for, really, as long as surgical facemasks have existed.

This practice has no medical basis whatsoever. It is purely symbolic. The act of showing that you are not so rude as to inflict your germs on other people. Culturally similar to bowing or adopting an almost different language. Depending on whether you are speaking to a superior or a subordinate.

There are multiple outbreaks of Coronavirus every year. It is the most common sort of virus there has ever been, throughout of all of human history. 

However in 2002 a Coronavirus was detected in Guangdong, China. This seemed particularly likely to cause Severe, Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This virus was named; "SARS-CoV" while the SARS it could cause was known simply as; "SARS."

SARS-CoV then had a limited spread throughout Asia. With it spread the Japanese practice of wearing surgical facemasks by the public. 

A practice which then took root due to some people thinking the masks also protect them from pollen. While, as we've begun to notice in the west, some women just think facemasks make them look cuter. Something I'm sure notorious British queue jumper Holly Willoughby has an opinion on.

Clearly the participants in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests were wearing surgical facemasks as a counter-surveillance measure. To protect their identities. However the lawful excuse they used was that it was to prevent the spread of germs or protect against pollen.

Obviously no-one can claim a monopoly on wearing boots, combat/cargo pants, a Hoodie top, construction helmet, goggles and a facemask at the same time. Particularly if they're a construction worker. 

However wearing that outfit within the context of a protest. That is very much one of my signature looks.

In March 2003 a coalition of 31 nations, led by the US and the UK invaded Iraq. Without either UN or NATO approval. On the grounds that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's).

So in May 2003 the theme for the UK's Mayday Protests was; "Weapons of Mass Construction."

By that point I was already rather famous. At the UK's 2002 Mayday Protests I'd helped frame the photograph which, essentially, became the UK recruiting poster for the massive protests against the Invasion of Iraq. As part of my first, lesser known, 'Thrupple.' Along with a bisexual Israeli Jewish woman and her gay Black British girlfriend.

So I attended this protest in costume. The costume of a construction worker. So boots, combat/cargo pants, a Hoodie top, construction helmet, goggles and a facemask.

I even went so far as to don a hi-vis vest. For the entirely fictional; "Proudhon Property Services" property maintenance company. Although I did stop short of actually registering the company and issuing backstopped, fake, identity cards. The protests weren't that illegal.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon is the Anarchist philosopher who coined the phrase; "All Property is Theft." Along with the oft forgotten rejoinder; "All Possession is Freedom." 

Although I'm not sure even I can remember why. I did get hit on the head rather a lot that day. I think it was in reference to the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) 1995 adoption of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

By that time GATS had begun to enter into the public consciousness in Britain. With traditional government roles, such as the maintainence of social housing, being privatised. Being taken over by global service corporations such as Mite etc.

The Mayday Protests had their roots in the (not necessarily anti) WTO protests on the late 1990s/early-2000's. Such as the Jubilee 2000 driven June 18 1999 (18/6/1999) "J18" Protests in the City of London. The November 30th 1999 (30/11/199) "N30" Protests centred around the WTO meeting in Seattle, US.

While I don't think it was something I was thinking of at the time. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon also invented the concept of; "Scientific Socialism." Which is rather central to Deng Xiaoping Thought by the Chinese Communist Party.

Looking at it now. The crucial difference seems to be that while participants in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests wore surgical facemasks. I wore a costume correct FPM-2/N95 mask.

The participants in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests seem to have missed a trick there. Given all the efforts participants in the 2014 Hong Kong Protests went through to disrupt COP20. With their constant updates on how FPM-2 air pollution had been reduced. Due to the streets being blocked to fossil fuel powered motor vehicles.

In May 2003 I was living in a large shared house. The one that was wrongly portrayed as a Frat House in the Season 7, Episode 5 "Selfless" episode of; "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." Goings on the UK and US still seem to be completely mystified by. Judging by the November 13th 2022 (13/11/22) University of Idaho (Moscow) slayings.

Amongst the large number of people living in that shared house there were two British Hong Kongers. The nameless martial artist and Chinese food specialist. Along with the less useful Wing jo-lee or; "Jolene."

I was also living in that house on October 23rd 2002 (23/10/02). When the 那 脚趾's barely disguised proxies attacked the Dubrovka Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Massacring 131 civilians while making 40 improvements.

I was still living there on September 1st 2003 (1/0/03). When the 那 脚趾's barely disguised proxies attacked School Number 1 in Beslan, Russia. Slaughtering, at least, 333 civilians. Predominately children.

Our good friend Tony Blair had such advance knowledge of the looming Beslan Massacre. That he had time to try and make it the basis for my; "Hands-Off Assassination" or; 'Assisted Suicide.'

Spoiler Alert: It Failed.

So in manifesting as the 2019-2020 Hong Protests. Britain scooped up all those parts of my biography. Including my marriage to Rihanna and her umbrella.

Britain also scooped up all the stuff about my father visiting Beijing on the day the US' Vietnam War ended. He'd also tried to sell fax machines to the East Germans and the Czechoslovakians.

Britain also scooped up all of my grandfather's very long and very sketchy military career.

Then just chucked all of it in China's face. All at the same time.

In the hope of shaking something, anything loose. About the most interesting thing to happen in US-China relations since 1972.

Which struck me as a rather ineffcient way of going about things. Given that I had at least one of the main players on speed-dial.

But then Britain was incapable of letting me help them at even a ridiculously small Community Mental Health Rehabilitation Project. 

At around 19:00 on 24/1/23 (UK date) I'll try and pick this up tomorrow. 

Edited at around 17:25 on 26/1/23 (UK date) to tidy the above, add Moscow and Beslan then copy & paste;

Aside from having my family biography chucked in its face. The 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests also subjected China to widespread disruption, property destruction, arson and violent rioting.

If I had to pick a single, most violent day. It would be November 17th 2019 (17/11/19). When police finally raided the Hong Kong Polytechnic (university) which participants in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests had been using as a base for their violence for several months. Something Britain would never tolerate.

On November 17th 2019 I was visiting my mothers. Where they now live in the British city of Salisbury. 

At the risk of blasting her medical records all over the Internet. One of my mothers suffers from a Lupus-like autoimmune condition. This causes her immune system to overreact and attack healthy parts of her body.

The condition is managed using the Cortical Steroid Dexamethasone to suppress the immune system. Dexamethasone being a drug that you all became very familiar with during the 2020 Pandemic.

During the 2017 COP23 Climate Change Summit this mother of mine developed Pneumonia. A form of Severe, Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). This saw her being admitted to the Intensive Care/Treatment Unit (IC/TU) of Salisbury District Hospital. Something which was obviously serious. Although not quite so serious it forced me to abandon my post.

My mother's combination of an autoimmune condition and SARS led to a very delicate balancing act. Keeping the level of Dexamethasone at the point where it would allow the immune system to fight off the infection. While still preventing it from attacking healthy body parts. A balancing act everyone got very used to during the 2020 Pandemic.

Britain referenced this incident during the 2018 Winter Games. In that gap between the Olympic and Para-Olympic. When they conducted a Novichok Nerve Agent attack against the city of Salisbury. Specifically targeting Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal. Along with British police officer Nick Bailey.

As the name suggests all Nerve Agents work by attacking the body's nervous system. The nervous system really controls everything in the human body. So Nerve Agent poisoning really causes all of the medical problems.

However the most immediate medical problem is causes is a form of Severe, Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It paralyses the muscles in the chest and lungs which allow a person to breath. If that SARS is not treated the patient will not live long enough to experience the other health problems.

As was required by the script. Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey all had to be admitted to the Intensive Care/Treatment Unit (IC/TU) of Salisbury District Hospital for their SARS to be treated.

This first British Nerve Agent attack on Salisbury. It invoked memories of the 1978 assassination of Georgi Markov. A Bulgarian dissident of the Soviet Union and British spy who was living in Britain.

In 1978 this mother of mine was at university. As students tend to do she had friends. One of whom was dating a man who went onto become her husband.

This young Doctor was working in St James' Hospital Balham when Georgi Markov came in. With a terrible fever and a strange umbrella wound to his leg. 

The way he tells the story. He was the one who realised that Markov had been poisoned with Ricin. He was most certainly a core member of the medical team though

Apart from the fact that they lived in Salisbury. So would be treated at Salisbury District Hospital. Sergei and Yulia Skripal were selected because they bear more than a passing physical resemblance to an old family friend and his daughter. Family friends so old they remember when this mother of mine was married to my father.

After my mother had been discharged from hospital in 2017. I had to go down and stay with her for a few days. Primarily to look after the dog. While my other mother, her wife, had to go and stay with her mother.

On one of the days my mother and I were in Salisbury town centre. Doing I can't remember what. We debated going out to eat that evening. Finally settling on the Zizzi's Restaurant. 

As I think the entire World now knows. The Salisbury branch of Zizzi's sits just by that little bridge, just by that little bench, which connects the town centre of the town centre carpark.

So as we were leaving the town centre we decided to pop into Zizzi's to check whether we'd need to book a table. The manager assured us that we wouldn't, so we didn't.

We then stopped off at The Bishops Mill pub. As I tend to do whenever I'm in Salisbury.

When we returned to Zizzi's that evening it was packed. The same manager told us that he couldn't accommodate us. We should have booked a table.

I was perfectly happy to go across the road to Pizza Express which is, pretty much, the exact same thing. However my mother dug her heels in. Insisting that we be given a table.

Eventually we were given a table. The one with the wobbly leg, right by the toilets.

I've certainly been in no rush to dispel the rumour amongst the UK restaurant industry. That I once ordered a Nerve Agent attack as punishment for poor service. I think we can all agree the Bishops Mill pub deserved it. Simply for the lack of the apostrophe.

In June 2018 Britain carried out another Novichok Nerve Agent attack against Salisbury. This time killing British citizen Dawn Sturgess.

This was done to confirm to the international intelligence community. That despite the witterings of the corrupt political class. It was Britain, not Russia, which was carrying out Novichok Nerve Agent attacks in Britain.

You will have to take my word for it. This claim of commercial waste bins in Salisbury going unemptied for months at a time. It just doesn't add up.

However if my word is not good enough for you. You could always check the Salisbury District Council website.

Britain referenced this little passage of its history at the start of the Brexit negotiations. In the early stages of the Pandemic. In April 2020.

Britain made this reference by subjecting this same mother of mine to a vicious dog attack. An attack so vicious it almost killed my mothers' dog. While landing my mother back in the Intensive Care/Treatment Unit (IC/TU) of Salisbury District Hospital. This time with Sepsis.

Obviously the good people at Salisbury District Hospital didn't notice that she had Sepsis. Fortunately though I did. With nothing more than a telephone consultation.

It really is that basic.

I'm convinced that November 17th 2019 (17/1/19) was the most violent day of the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests. The raiding of Hong Kong Polytechnic was, apparently, so fiery and so violent. It set off the fire alarms at Salisbury Polytechnic.

One of my mothers was volunteering at Salisbury Polytechnic. In order to get access to their libraries full of books. The setting off of the fire alarms forced her, and many others, out into the cold while it was established it was a false alarm.

So when she eventually arrived in a restaurant to have lunch with me and my other mother she was a little tired. As were we from having been walking the dog out in the cold.

This meant that while we were waiting for our food to arrive small-talk began to lag. Looking around though we noticed lots of wall art and engravings. Many of which featured the Star of David.

That prompted a half-hearted discussion. Over whether the original building was related to Judaism or Freemasonry.

Really more taking on the form of a monologue. This led to me explaining that the Star of David was, traditionally, a Masonic symbol. While the original symbol of Judaism was the Pentagram. Perhaps betraying Judaism's Animist roots.

I likened the original flag of the Jewish nation to being similar to the National Flag of the modern nation of Morocco. However no-one seemed to know what the flag of Morocco looked like. Which led to me drawing a Pentagram on a napkin. 

We discovered that the building had originally been constructed in the 18th Century as a Scientific Institute. So we concluded that it had been built by the actual Illuminati.

It makes for a mildly interesting moment. Realising that not only does that weird Internet conspiracy theory have some basis in reality. You're actually sitting in it.

I remain adamant that is was this act of me drawing a Pentagram, surrounded by my mothers, in a temple of the Illuminati. In Salisbury. Which conjured COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and its SARS into existence.

As punishment for the way Britain had treated me, particularly during COP Climate Change Summits. Punishment to the World for adopting the Paris Agreement.

In late 2020 no-one knew how COVID-19 came into existence. In many ways they still don't. So everyone was just making up stories.

With everyone just making up stories. I thought I may as well make up a really good story. 

Particularly if it mocked the US' 2013 claim that it is Rihanna rather than Greenhouse Gas (ghg) emissions which causes Climate Change. A claim which is equally impossible to disprove as the claim that I conjured COVID-19 into existence.

Besides. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you have to explain a Pandemic, from a truly global perspective. Within the context of a US Election?

It turns out.

You've got to start somewhere.

At around 18:05 on 26/1/23 (UK date) I'll try and pick this up on Saturday. 

Edited at around 19:30 on 31/1/23 (UK date) to quickly copy & paste;

Whatever caused COVID-19 to emerge. It certainly looks as though the Wu Xing, Tree of Life, Quantum Field, Universe, whatever looked at Britain's attack on Hong Kong and China. Then went;

"Oh so they want hordes of mask-wearing lunatics ruining the economy and society(?!)"

 "There they go then!"

It was actually the Pandemic restrictions which finally brought Britain's attack on Hong Kong and China to an end. More than a year after it had begun.

The Pandemic restrictions of course caused the 2020 Summer Games to be delayed. When they were finally able to take place in the Summer of 2021 the Pandemic restrictions meant they had to do so without crowds.

Although these 2022 Winter Games were able to take place with crowds they were still heavily restricted. They operated under what the hosts described as a; "Closed Loop" system. In which participants and visitors to the games could only visit the games. They were not allowed contact with Chinese society more generally.

I think though by the Spring of 2022 most nations had given up on the Pandemic restrictions. China though was the exception. Continuing to cling to its; "Zero Covid" policy until public protests forced them to abandon it. In December 2022.

China is a nation of over 1.4 billion people. It is a misconception that China is some sort of dictatorship. Ruled by a single leader.

There are actually 9 political parties in China. However the United Front policy means that the other 8 political parties all have to do what the Chinese Communist Party decides to do. In public at least.

The Chinese Communist Party has over 94 million members. Twice the size of the entire UK electorate. Larger than the typical electorate in any EU Democracy.

Those 94 million party members are organised at the local level. All electing members of a Local Congress on a One Person, One Vote basis. The local Congress then elects a state or Provincial level Congress. Again on a One Person, One Vote basis.

The members of the Local and Provincial Congress' then elect members of the National Congress. On a One Person, One Vote basis.

This national Congress, known as The National People's Congress meets every five years. Using a One Person, One Vote system the National People's Congress elects the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party then elects the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. On a One Person, One Vote basis.

The Politburo, on a One Person, One Vote basis, then elects the General-Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. That person is the Paramount Leader. Currently Xi Jinping.

Amid those 94 million voters. Five levels of 5 year election cycles. You get all of the scheming and jostling for position you get in any democracy. Probably more so. China does seem to have a deep culture of rebellion. Stretching back to its Dragons.

The Head of the Organising Committee for these games was Cai Qi. Who is the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party for the Beijing region. He is also a member of the National Politburo. Cai Qi is frequently accused of using Social Media to give him more power in the Politburo than his one vote allows.

So there is certainly more than one reason why China clung to its Zero Covid policy for as long as it did.

One of the main reasons is that China is still, very much, an Economically Developing Country.

In 1958 Mao Zedong launched his; "Great Leap Forward." A leap away from Agriculture to Industrialisation which caused the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961). This saw some 55 million people or 10% of the Chinese population starve to death.

In response Mao Zedong launched Mao Zedong Thought by the Chinese Communist Part or; "Maoism." This saw a complete rejection of Industrialisation. Including the rejection of the Industrialisation of Farming brought about by the Second Agricultural Revolution. Dragging China back to the levels of economic development of Europe in the 16th Century.

Maoism didn't really come to an end until the mid-1980's. When the economic reforms of Deng Xiaoping Thought by the Chinese Communist Party started to take effect.

So the generations of Chinese born before the mid-1980's, the youngest of whom are now only starting to approach middle-age. Their formative years were spent amongst crippling poverty, famine, food shortages and malnutrition. Causing all of the health problems in later life associated with them.

In societies gripped by extreme poverty people have to spend almost their every waking moment doing really hard, back-breaking physical labour. Simply to survive.

So they just do not get leisure time. If they do then the last thing they're going to do with that free time is recreational physical activity. 

Meaning that it is only now in China that a culture of health boosting exercise is starting to develop. Increasing Chinese participation in Winter Sports is the main legacy that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was trying to secure through these games.

Added to that. Amongst the generations of Chinese born before Deng Xiaoping's reforms tobacco smoking isn't so much common as bordering on the compulsory.

Alongside poor public health amongst its population. China's status as an Economically Developing Country means that China doesn't have a particularly developed healthcare system.

Despite being a Socialist country China most certainly does not have a socialised healthcare system. Britain with its National Health Service (NHS) is the only nation on Earth crazy enough to do that. 

Instead China has a private insurance based healthcare system. Around 97% of Chinese do have some form of health insurance. However most is very low quality. Only around 16% of the population have medium quality health insurance and only around 15% have high quality health insurance.

Amongst the Chinese who do have insurance to pay for healthcare. The standard of healthcare they receive often falls far short of what you would expect in an Economically Developed Country.

In a developed country a Medical Doctor is just that. Someone who holds a PhD in Medical Science. Meaning they've spent three years obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. A further year obtaining a Master of Science degree. Then a further three years obtaining their PhD. All before undergoing clinical training.

Chinese Doctors often only have a Bachelor's degree.

Those Doctors tend to only be available is urban areas. Chinese in rural areas still often have to rely on so-called; "Barefoot Doctors." People with little to no formal medical training who go around treating people, often with Traditional Chinese Medicine. First Aiders essentially.

China also had the misfortune of being the first nation to experience COVID-19. Back in December 2019 they didn't have the luxury of all these discussions about different variants. PCR testing or Lateral Flow Testing. N95 or Surgical Facemasks.

Instead China had a pile of dead bodies. With absolutely no idea why they had a pile of dead bodies.

In those circumstances you absolutely have to go into Lockdown. With no data to prove or disprove any theory. That legitimately could be the start of the Zombie Apocalypse. The disease that finally wipes out the human race.

Chinese policy never seemed to escape that initial trauma. Continuing to focus on Lockdowns to eliminate the spread of the virus. Rather than relying on immunity, either natural or vaccine induced, to allow them to live with Covid.

This policy of Lockdown prevented China's population from developing natural immunity. It also further weakened the immune systems of a population which wasn't in the best of health to begin with. Leaving them more susceptible to other diseases. Such as Influenza.

This is something we've seen increasingly across the World. Particularly with the generation of children who spent their formative years during the Pandemic now lacking effective immune systems. Seeing the re-emergence of diseases such as Scarlet Fever which developed nations thought had long since been consigned to the history books.

Where China has used vaccines. The vaccines China has used haven't been particularly good.

None of the vaccines available prevent you from catching COVID-19. Nor do any of the vaccines available prevent you from spreading COVID-19.

Simply put; The Vaccines Do Not Work.

The only thing the vaccines are any good at doing is priming the immune system for COVID-19 infection. Reducing the chances of that Lupus-like autoimmune response. The over-reaction of immune system which is what actually kills people.

The main Chinese vaccine "Sinovac" is only 60% effective at doing that. So roughly 40% of the people who receive it gain no benefit whatsoever. You may as well inject them with Saline.

If Sinovac lost just 1 percentage point of even that extremely limited efficacy. Dropping down to 59%. You wouldn't legally be able to describe it as any sort of medical product.

As I've said China has prioritised Lockdowns over vaccines. Where they have used vaccines they've mainly targeted the working age population. Leading to low levels of vaccination amongst the elderly. 

It is the elderly who tend to be the most at risk of death from respiratory illness such as the many Coronavirus' and Influenza. Particularly if they've had their immune systems weakened by years of Lockdowns.

So certainly the main reason behind China clinging to its Zero Covid policy for so long. Has been a fear that once it is lifted it would lead to a massive spike in deaths. Driven in no small part by what a bad policy it was to begin with.

This is certainly something we've seen evidence of. Following the chaotic abandonment of the Zero Covid policy in response to public protests. Ending the Zero Covid policy is certainly something you would plan to do in the Spring rather than the Winter.

However I think there is also a significant element to China's thinking which has been overlooked.

In an effort to move China beyond the Primary Stage of Socialism Deng Xiaoping was very keen to embrace the good cat of the markets. Far keener than US President Nixon could have hoped for when he met with Mao Zedong.

While China did crush the 1989 Democracy Movement. Four years after Britain had crushed the Democracy movement in Hong Kong. The Totalitarian Capitalism which followed was never a planned Thought by the Chinese Communist Party. More of an organic, panicked response.

So while the Capitalist First World was perfectly happy to treat the Totalitarian Capitalism era as normal. China itself never seemed that comfortable with it.

So when US President Trump launched his trade war with China. China didn't seem that angry about it. Certainly not as angry as certain elements within the Capitalist First World.

Rather than demanding regime change in the US. China seemed happy to discuss the issues to find a mutually beneficial solution on a sector-by-sector, business-by-business basis. Although, as with Israel. Yelling does seem to be China's default setting.

COVID-19 should have been a gift from the Wu Xing, Quantum Field, Tree of Life, Universe whatever. To anyone who wanted to see a rebalancing of the US-China Trade Deficit. Restoring America's reward for being a Libertarian Capitalist nation. While removing China's compensation for being a Totalitarian Capitalist nation.

Emerging first in China COVID-19 left the Workshop of the World with no option other than to go into Lockdown. However an even halfway competent assessment of the information that China quickly provided. Made clear that there was absolutely no need for anyone else to go into Lockdown.

China being forced into Lockdown while the rest of the global economy functioned as normal. Should have been the huge shock needed to break global supply-chains dependence on China.

Obviously though the Capitalist First World can't even offer a halfway competent assessment of information. So also went into Lockdown. Causing a global supply-chain crisis instead.

With everyone else abandoning Lockdowns at the end of 2021. I can't help but think China was deliberately trying to keep its Zero Covid policy going for as long as possible. In order to help break global-supply chains dependence on China.

In order to remove China's compensation for being a Totalitarian Capitalism nation. Forcing it to become more of a Libertarian Capitalist nation instead.

Sadly though it seems there was only so much of a burden the Chinese could shoulder. In order to bail the 那 脚趾 out of its insane and illegal war against Ukraine and the Donbas Republics.

At around 20:00 on 31/1/23 (UK date) I'll try and pick this up on Thursday. Although I may tidy before that. 

Edited at around 17:55 on 2/2/23 (UK date) to tidy all of the above and copy & paste;

The viciousness and stupidity of Britain's 2019 attack on China is really highlighted by how it began.

When Hong Kong was returned to China its core legal system, Hong Kong Basic Law, was left completely intact. Save for some necessary changes. Such as replacing the role of Governor-General with the Chief-Executive.

This meant there was no legal mechanism for wanted fugitives to be extradited from Hong Kong to China's other regions. A very odd situation particularly as fugitives wanted in the US, Britain, Germany or any of the 20 nations that Hong Kong had fugitive surrender agreements could be extradited.

The absurdity of this situation was really highlighted by the 2014 Hong Kong Protests. One of the main complaints participants in those so-called Umbrella Protests had was that they kept getting attacked by Triads.

The Triads are very serious, violent and organised criminal networks. Similar to the Italian Mafia. Run almost along the lines of a religious sect they are more formally known as San He Hui (Three United Association). In reference to the union between Heaven, Earth and Humanity. 

One example of a Triad organisation is the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Yiheguan). Which staged the 1899-1901 rebellion, known to Colonialists as the; "Boxer Rebellion." Another example of a Triad organisation would be the White Lotus (Bailianjiao). Who mounted the earlier White Lotus Rebellion (1794-1804).

Obviously no country would tolerate a situation. Whereby members of an organised criminal gang could commit serious and horrific crimes in one part of the country. Then avoid prosecution by simply moving to another part of the country.

The solution that China proposed was the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill (2019). Which set out to amend Hong Kong Basic Law. 

The provisions of this so-called "2019 Hong Kong Extradition Law" were hardly controversial. They simply allowed fugitives to be extradited from Hong Kong to other parts of China. Upon such a request being approved by Hong Kong Courts. 

The bill was published in March 2019. It had its First Reading in the LegCo on April 3rd 2019 (3/4/19). With its Second Reading scheduled for June 2019.

At this time Britain was in deep political crisis. Due to its efforts to leave the European Union (EU). "Brexit."

In 2016 the British electorate voted to leave the EU. In a public referendum. However when it came time for Britain to actually leave the EU. Britain's political class simply refused to respect the democratic will of the electorate.

Rather than passing the legislation needed for Britain to actually leave the EU. Members of the British Parliament instead kept introducing Bills to stop the legislation being passed. The so-called; "Letwin-Cooper Amendment" the; "Benn Amendment" etc.

Within the British Parliament a Bill must pass five distinct stages to become law; First Reading, Second Reading. Then if it passes the House of Lords a Third Reading. Before being signed into law by the Monarch (Royal Assent).

All of these stages are distinct from each other and cannot happen on the same day.

In their effort to defy the democratic will of the electorate. The British political class took to simply ignoring this legal process. Ramming their bills through all five stages and into law within minutes of each other.

Although it has never functioned as a Parliament Hong Kong's LegCo is broadly modelled on the British Parliament.

So in giving the 2019 Hong Kong Extradition Law its First Reading in April 2019. Then not even scheduling its Second Reading until months later. China, through Hong Kong, was trying to help Britain out of the political turmoil that was tearing it apart.

Gently making the point. That not even China, as a Totalitarian Communist nation, would behave so undemocratically as Britain's political class was behaving.

In the hope of getting Britain's political class to see the error of their ways. In the hope that intervention would prompt them to behave more sanely in the future.

Unfortunately Britain isn't capable of offering even a halfway competent assessment of information. So responded to this Chinese gesture of goodwill by unleashing the 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests. 

All in a desperate effort to shake something, anything loose. About the most important thing to happen in US-China relations since 1972.

The 2019-2020 Hong Kong Protests did see the 2019 Hong Kong Extradition Law scrapped. However it was replaced in June 2020 by the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The so-called; "Hong Kong National Security Law."

In passing the Hong Kong National Security Law China was no longer in any mood to be charitable to Britain. It was passed in a single day by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and immediately came into effect. Hong Kong's LegCo did not need to be consulted and was not consulted.

The Hong Kong National Security Law really did away with the extradition issue. Giving Courts in the Chinese mainland jurisdiction over Hong Kong and allowing police from the Chinese mainland to operate in Hong Kong. 

So if China wanted to take a fugitive in Hong Kong into custody they would simply arrest them as if they were on the Chinese mainland. There is no need for them to apply to Hong Kong's Courts.

The Hong Kong National Security Law also gives police from the Chinese mainland broad new powers in Hong Kong. Such as the warrantless searches of people and property and banning people from leaving Hong Kong. The Chinese government can also freeze the assets of suspects and broadly monitor all communications including Internet traffic.

For cases brought under the Hong Kong National Security Law the Hong Kong Chief-Executive can choose which Judge they are brought before. While the Chinese government can order cases be heard in secret. 

The Hong Kong Security Law also brought in the new offence of; "Engaging in Secession, Subversion, Terrorism or Colluding With Foreign Countries." 

In 2021 the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress changed the structure of Hong Kong's LegCo. Amending Annex I and Annex II of Hong Kong Basic Law.

Dubbed; "The Patriots Law" this brought in a committee to vet candidates standing for membership of the LegCo. Either elected or appointed. In order to pass the committee a candidate must show themselves to be a patriot. Committing to keeping Hong Kong as part of China.

In itself this is hardly an unusual idea.

The British House of Commons has 650 members. However currently only 643 are actually eligible to accept their membership. Seven elected candidates are members of the Irish Republican Sinn Fein Party.

In order to accept membership of the House of Commons a person must prove themselves to be a patriot. Swearing a legal oath of alligiance to the Monarch and the Kingdom.

As Sinn Fein want to take Northern Ireland out of the Monarch's Kingdom. They are unable to prove themselves to be patriots by taking that oath. So are forbidden from taking up their membership of the House of Commons.

The introduction of a vetting committee certainly reduces the democratic freedoms that the Chinese Communist Party granted Hong Kong when Hong Kong was returned to China.

However it still doesn't reduce democracy in Hong Kong to the level it was under British rule.

Although they must prove themselves to be patriots before becoming candidates for the LegCo. 20 of them are still elected by their fellow Hong Kongers. Rather than all of them being appointed by the British Monarch.

So surely even the most unhinged Hong Konger must be able to see. That partnering with Britain isn't making their situation better. It is simply making it worse.

If things continue it might get so bad that it's back to being as bad as it was under British rule. 

 

To be continued in Part 6.

18:50 on 2/2/23 (UK date).