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South Ossetia has scheduled a referendum on joining Russia

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The breakaway region of South Ossetia will hold a referendum on joining Russia, AFP reported. The leader of the breakaway region has set July 17 as the date for the poll. “Anatoly Bibilov signed a decree to hold a referendum in the Republic of South Ossetia,” Bibilov’s press service said in a statement. The statement cited the “historical aspirations” of his people to join Russia. The announcement comes on the 79th day of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, with thousands killed and more than six million fleeing their homes.

The separatist regions of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, have also demanded accession to Russia. Georgia has condemned the full-scale war against Ukraine. The country called South Ossetia’s plans to hold a referendum on joining Russia “unacceptable”. In August 2008, Russia launched an attack on Georgia, which was fighting pro-Russian militias in South Ossetia after shelling Georgian villages. The fighting ended five days later with an EU-brokered truce, but at the cost of 700 lives and the resettlement of tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians.

300 soldiers from South Ossetia refused to fight in Ukraine and returned home, Ossetian blogger Alik Puhati said on April 1. About 300 servicemen (mostly ethnic Ossetians) from the Russian military base returned to South Ossetia of their own accord, saying they had been left to die in the war in Ukraine. There are no official figures on the number of troops, but the very fact of the return has been confirmed by former President Edward Kokoity. He emphasized that “no one has the right to condemn them”.

“We are all concerned about the situation around our soldiers who have returned home to Ossetia from the war zone. No one has the right to condemn these boys or accuse them of cowardice. It is necessary to understand the main reasons for what happened and to understand how their participation is organized, “he said.

Kokoity added that the authorities would “deal with the case in the most serious way” and noted that soldiers who had left the battlefield could return to Ukraine and continue to fight “if they saw fit”. At the same time, he emphasized that “the organization of their participation” must be approached “with the utmost responsibility”. “We have a duty to protect every life,” Kokoity said. He also called on all South Ossetians, especially military relatives, to “refrain from protests” to which someone allegedly “provoked” them. The Telegram channel “Eavesdropped on the police” published photos of the returned soldiers with the message that they had returned home “hitchhiking”.

Earlier, South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov said that troops from Russia’s 4th military base were fighting in Ukraine. “I am told that our boys are dying. No! No – they are going to win! And now we are going to Donbass, to Meriupol, to Melitopol just to defeat the enemy! ”Bibilov wrote in his Telegram profile. He clarified that it was a victory over “neo-fascists who turned Ukraine into a reserve of Nazism.” Bibilov says the “Ossetian has no choice and no other solution” than to take part in Putin’s “special operation”. “Those who are now trying to convince our people to write a report and refuse to take part in the special operation are honest and safe for the contract soldier, these people are lying. “Those who make us doubt Russia’s actions are enemies!” The South Ossetian president continued. On March 17, Bibilov published a post from the funeral of Andrei Bakaev, a soldier in the 58th Russian Army, a native of South Ossetia. Bibilov said that he “died heroically defending the people of Donbass.”

Even then, the referendum was planned to take place probably “in April-May”. According to Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin will treat the results “with respect”. At the same time, he clarified that Moscow has not yet taken legal action to include South Ossetia in Russia. In Georgia, talks on the republic’s accession to Russia were called unacceptable. They recalled that the territory was “occupied”, according to the Russian service of The Moskow Times.

Let us recall that at the end of 2019, Patriarch Kirill inspired a new scandal between Russia and Georgia. The media published a letter from the Moscow Patriarchate’s Training Commission to the rectors of higher theological institutions in Russia, which caused new tensions in relations between the Moscow and Georgian patriarchates. The letter says that by decision of Moscow Patriarch Kirill, all high school graduates who have a sacred rank can be assigned to Russian military bases outside Russia as chaplains. In return, after the end of the “business trip”, the young clergy will be enrolled in the Moscow or St. Petersburg diocese.

The following Russian military bases abroad were mentioned – “in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Kyrgyzstan and in the garrisons of the Arctic region”. The letter was signed by priest Maxim Kozlov, chairman of the Training Commission at the Ministry of Justice, Dveri recalls. On this occasion, the official website of the Georgian Patriarchate published an address by Patriarch Elijah to Patriarch Kirill, which reads: “Extremely negative impression was created by the information that you want to send high school graduates to help military commanders in Russian military units located in Abkhazia, in the region of Tskhinvali, Kyrgyzstan and the Arctic.The Russian Church has always recognized and recognizes the jurisdiction of the Georgian Church in both Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, so it is incomprehensible to us such statements that put us all in In conclusion, the Georgian Patriarch expressed hope that Father Kiril “would take measures to normalize relations between our countries, peoples and churches, if possible.” The letter also expressed concern about the arrest (“kidnapping”) of people in The Tskhinvali border area, which is already “permanent”. draws people from the border area, which has already become permanent. But this time we are even more concerned about the detention of the famous doctor Vaji Gaprindashvili in the Tskhinvali prison. This situation is causing just discontent and protests in our society, “the message said. The Georgian doctor is the president of the Georgian Association of Traumatologists and lives in Tbilisi. He was arrested by Russian forces in the area of the village of Orchosani (in South Ossetia), where he was with a patient. He was accused of “violating state borders” and sentenced by unrecognized South Ossetian authorities to two months in prison.

World Nurses Day – The story of Florence Nightingale, the world’s first nurse

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World Nurses Day has been officially celebrated on May 12, 1974, at the initiative of the International Council of Nurses. The day is associated with the name of Florence Nightingale – the world’s first nurse.

She established a system for the training of middle and junior nurses in Britain in 1855 and trained nurses during the Crimean War.

Nightingale is considered to be the founder of the modern profession of nurse, she even wrote an oath (similar to the Hippocratic one), with which nurses solemnly promise to care for patients without commercial purposes.

Florence was born into a wealthy English family. Proof of the great potential of her parents is the fact that for their honeymoon they can afford a long trip around Europe. Their two daughters were created during this journey. In fact, Florence (who is the younger of two sisters) was born on May 12, 1820 and was named after the Italian city where she was born, namely Florence, which is no coincidence that on May 12 we celebrate the International Day of the Nurse).

When the family finally returned to England after the long journey, Mrs. Nightingale made a full commitment to her daughters’ education. In a homely atmosphere, under her mother’s watchful eye, Florence began studying Greek and Latin, mathematics, science, ancient and modern literature, and classical German, French, and Italian. At first glance, it seems that the girl will follow the traditional path assigned to a woman of the upper class of the Victorian era, which in practice means that she will marry a man of noble birth and many quiet evenings spent with children by the family hearth.

Florence Nightingale chose the profession of nurse

Much to the chagrin of his parents, however, Nightingale chose to take a different path and follow his own dreams. Although always surrounded by countless wealthy suitors, the British woman flatly rejects any idea of ​​marriage and tells her mother and father that she has chosen a radically different vocation, namely – to serve society and humanity in general, by devoting herself. of care for the sick and weak.

Initially, her parents were shocked and frankly frightened by her intention to take care of nursing, as this activity is extremely unsuitable for a lady of her rank. After all, after many “family wars”, in 1849 they still decided to release her for a two-week period at the Kaiserswerther Diakonie Institute in Germany. During this, albeit short, stay, the young woman acquires valuable medical knowledge and is even more inspired to pursue her goals to the end. In 1851 he managed to return to Kaiserwert, this time for a longer period – for three months. And when she sets foot on English soil again, she is already convinced which way to go.

In 1853, Florence was appointed manager of Upper Harley Street Hospital in London, a small hospital for elderly women with noble health problems and financial difficulties. where he is fortunate enough to learn in detail about medical practice at a Paris Catholic charity. She later volunteered and worked as a nurse at Middlesex (a county in England that existed until 1965) during the cholera epidemic.

The Crimean War broke out in 1854, and Florence was horrified to learn that in the course of hostilities, the death toll in the ranks of British troops was as high as 41%. More shocking to her, however, is the fact that most British soldiers die more often from disease and infection than from their wounds on the battlefield. The lack of nursing care in the British army is obvious – by comparison, French soldiers in hospitals are cared for by a large number of nurses and there is much lower mortality.

Using her political influence, Nightingale received permission, along with a group of several women, like her, high-class members, to travel to the Crimea and take care of the sick. Believing that mud, or rather the pathogenic microorganisms contained in it, are the cause of many of the diseases that take the lives of soldiers, the British woman organized a large-scale campaign to clean and ventilate hospitals and barracks. In just a few months, the number of deaths has dropped dramatically. Nightingale, who, thanks to her father, has studied the basic principles of statistics, carefully documents all the results achieved and uses them for further innovations in the practice of nursing. In other words, with all her achievements she lays the foundations of the modern notion of nursing care.

The “Lady with the Lamp” is considered the first professional nurse

When she returned to England, Florence was deservedly greeted as a heroine by the British people. In 1860, Nightingale established the first school of its kind for nurses at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. Students in it receive both theoretical knowledge and preparation for work on clinical research. Curiously, the school was opened entirely with the British woman’s personal funds. Subsequently, many of those who graduated from it began to establish similar educational institutions in other hospitals.

Florence Nightingale died at the age of 90 and bequeathed a wealth of knowledge and skills to future generations of nurses. The “lady with the lamp”, as she is often called, because of her habit of wandering around the beds of the sick at night, is undoubtedly a person about whom much can be said. It is no coincidence that there are several museums around the world that store objects and written documents related to her life.

Cyprus, Italy, Czech Republic, Montenegro: Russian tourists have created widespread problems

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Gaston de Persigny
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Anti-Russian sanctions will undermine the well-being of at least five resort countries in Europe. Thus, the absence of Russian tourists, who traditionally spend a lot of money, has already created widespread problems in the Mediterranean, not allowing the tourism industry of Cyprus to get out of the “pandemic” crisis, but Italy, France, Montenegro and the Czech Republic will also suffer greatly this summer. This assessment of the situation was voiced in the British The Telegraph.

Columnist for the publication Nick Squires, in particular, notes that Cyprus will have the worst. The tourism industry there makes up about a quarter of the economy, and the Russian market has been in first or second place for many years, it is no coincidence that Cyprus quickly opened up to Russian tourists during the pandemic. The island will be visited by 800 thousand tourists less than planned. According to the expert, losses could reach up to $520 million. To avoid them, the Cyprus Hotel Association is trying to attract tourists from alternative markets, in particular from the UK, France, Germany and Israel.

The situation is similar in Montenegro, where the Russians own a large part of the real estate, and our rich tourists also supported yacht tourism in the country. Other victims include Italy, France and the Czech Republic.

As a result, according to the British observer, the tourism industry “does not have hopes for the restoration of tourism in Europe this summer.” Despite all efforts, she will not be able to get out of the coronavirus crisis.

How to choose a well-ripened and sweet watermelon?

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Watermelon is valued for its juiciness and sweet taste, which are best revealed chilled. However, not everyone can enjoy their pleasant taste. You need to know how to choose a sweet watermelon. Useful properties of watermelon The birthplace of watermelon is South America. The fruit has been known since the time of Ancient Egypt – watermelons were left in the tombs of the pharaohs as food for the afterlife, which shows that the wonderful taste of the fruit was highly valued in ancient times. Watermelon consists of 90-95% water, so it normalizes the body’s water balance, protects against dehydration and heat stroke. The large amount of water has a positive effect on the functioning of the kidneys and urinary tract in general, helps to remove salts, thus preventing the formation of stones. Because watermelons contain large amounts of potassium and magnesium, they have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Watermelon is deservedly considered a powerful antioxidant, as it perfectly removes toxins and significantly reduces the level of bad cholesterol. The sweet fruit is rich in vitamins B1, B2, C, PP, E, A, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, folic acid and vitamin C.

How to choose a well-ripened watermelon? Probably each of us has bought or tasted a bad watermelon at least once in his life. It is difficult to identify a good product at first glance, so people often come across green or overripe fruit. However, there are some secrets that will help you always choose juicy and sweet watermelons. The maturity of the watermelon can be determined by its sound. Tap your fingers. You should feel a clear sound. A beautiful watermelon always resonates! Pull the handle. Unripe watermelons usually have green twigs. There is a pattern between the size of the fruit and its quality. Large fruits are almost always juicier and sweeter. At the same time, too large shapes also do not always show good quality. The ideal weight of a watermelon is 6-10 kg. It is better to buy watermelons with bright stripes that contrast sharply with each other. The stronger the contrast, the tastier and juicier it is. Watch out for a yellow spot on the side, which indicates that the watermelon is ripe. Choose women’s watermelons. Yes, watermelons also have sex. They are round and sweet. Also pay attention to the brown spots on the skin, which also suggest a well-ripened watermelon.

Zuhra Pavlova, a candidate of medical sciences and endocrinologist at Moscow State University, explained what watermelon lovers should be afraid of. Many people mistakenly believe that these are nitrates, said the doctor. According to her, “it is still rare to come across a nitrate-poisoned watermelon in the middle of the season.” “Nitrate poisoning was relevant half a century ago, when watermelons were much more expensive than fertilizers,” the doctor explained, adding that there would be no problems with nitrates if you chose a fruit without suspicious spots and lumps on the surface.

“The most dangerous thing in watermelon is fructose. And this is a scientific fact,” said Zuhra Pavlova. This leads to a risk of overweight and obesity, “warned the endocrinologist. She explained that it is very easy to deal with excess fructose.” You should always eat watermelon as a dessert – no more than 200-300 grams in quantity. You do not need to expand your stomach with large amounts of fruit – over the years its elasticity decreases and you may risk getting a “watermelon belly”, the doctor advises.

One tea bag for two: Elizabeth II remembered the meeting with Gagarin

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Gaston de Persigny
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The queen considered the astronaut a real gentleman.

Yuri Gagarin’s visit to Buckingham Palace was remembered by the Queen and all members of her family for a long time.

The cosmonaut, without hesitation, offered Her Majesty to make tea for two from one bag, with which she readily agreed.

At the end of the tea party, Gagarin took a slice of lemon from the bottom of his glass and ate it.

The Queen immediately followed suit. In the future, she always finished eating lemon, which had a beneficial effect on her health.

Leaving, Yuri put his chair upside down on the table, which also did not embarrass the royal person. In an interview with the BBC, Elizabeth II noted that she was delighted with communicating with the astronaut.

“Yuri was intelligent and behaved like a real gentleman.” Queen Elizabeth II

Spiritual Preservation Comes in Many Forms

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WRN Editorial Staff
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Spiritual Preservation Comes in Many Forms

For whom do the bells toll? In Appleton, Wisconsin, it’s for the parishioners of Zion Lutheran Church, and it’s thanks to the sturdy hands and generous heart of Gary Neumann.

Appearing far younger than his 80 years, Gary’s living proof that keeping busy on the things you love is a surefire path to a dip in the fountain of youth. He’s been volunteering his time in restorations to the church and claims his love for “rebuilding old things” has him returning day after day to ensure the glorious sounds remain a part of the historic landmark.

Built in 1902, the church has weathered its 120-year history of serving as a gathering place of worship for so many in the Appleton community, but time takes its toll, and when the four-faced clock and bell tower ceased to work, and the threat of a computerized system was imminent, Gary rolled up his sleeves and stepped up to his calling to repair the cherished chimes and antique clock, saving the church thousands of dollars in the process.

Gary teamed with his son to search for parts needed for the repairs, and by volunteering hundreds of hours over many months, he made the repairs for a cost to the church of less than $200.

This generous act enabled contributions to be earmarked toward the professional repair of a substantial leak in the church ceiling.

Bell towers and timekeepers aren’t the only precious aspects of the church that Gary had a hand in rescuing. When the organ pipes needed replacing, Gary drove from his home in Appleton to Elmira, New York, to secure the pipes from a church no longer in need of them.

His next project? Restoring the intricate stained glass in the structure—a complex undertaking that the Zion congregation has no doubt Gary will deliver on.

Now retired, Gary is thrilled to share his years of experience and excellent skillset as an electrical engineer with the historic landmark and those who have come to call it their spiritual home, proving once again that the best gifts are often received from the selfless act of giving.

Marilyn Monroe’s Clothes, Voldemort’s Magic Wand, Paul Getty’s Yacht: Hollywood is selling out its history

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Gaston de Persigny
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More than 1,400 legendary items from the Mecca of cinema are up for auction

Several dresses worn by Marilyn Monroe for “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “No Other Business Like Show Business” will be auctioned off this summer, along with 1,400 other legendary items in Hollywood history.

In three days in July, Turner Classic Movie and Julian’s Action will team up to auction off Captain America’s “Captain America: The First Avenger” shield, a Givenchy suit worn by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as well as Jules Winfield’s portfolio from “Criminal”.

One of the six original Star Wars: New Hope helmets will also be among the bids.

Props from the Harry Potter movies, such as Draco Malfoy’s “Nimbus 2001” broom and Voldemort’s magic wand, as well as the hammer used by Chris Hemsworth in “Thor: The Dark World” are some of the items connoisseurs will bid for.

The yacht, once owned by industrialist Paul Getty and used in the outdoor scenes of “Friend Joey,” starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak, will also be put up for auction.

The auction will take place from July 15 to 17 at Julian’s Auctions, Beverly Hills.

Why the Church is against magic (2)

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The real miracle workers

On the contrary, in church healings there are no “black boxes” with incomprehensible content. For, here everything is openly said: Lord, come and heal the sick person, if this is in accordance with Your good will! It may be that it would be better for a person to get sick for a while. Of course, God loves us as much as we can imagine. But this love sometimes manifests itself in a way that is not at all what we imagine it to be. If God sees that it will be more useful for man, for the salvation of his soul, to get sick, He will not undertake to heal him. And this will be the truest manifestation of love for this person.

That is why the church miracle-healers never promised a “100% result”, as we can read in the advertisements of modern magicians. And if God already acted through them, then this was an undoubted testimony of God’s action. Here is how the Bible describes such a case in the third chapter of the Acts of the Holy Apostles:

“1. Peter and John went up to the temple together at the ninth hour of prayer.

2. There was a man, lame from his mother’s womb, whom they carried and placed every day at the temple gates, called Krasni, to beg alms from those who entered the temple;

3. When he saw Peter and John coming into the temple, he asked them for alms.

4. And Peter looked upon him with John, and said, Look on us.

5. And he stared at them, hoping to get something from them.

6. But Peter said, I have no silver and no gold: but whatsoever I have I give thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth arise and walk.

7. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened,

8. And he jumped up, and stood up, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.

9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

10. And they knew him, that it was he which sat at the red doors of the temple for alms; and they were filled with terror and wonder at what had happened to him. “

To make it clearer: chromium from the mother’s womb means that this person has been deprived of the opportunity to walk since birth. He has never walked in his life, and he has not even stood on his feet. Neither the body’s muscles, nor the nerve conduction pathways, nor its reflexes, nor the corresponding parts of the motor areas in the cerebral cortex – nothing of it didn’t work for him. Complete atrophy, no chance of recovery. And suddenly he jumped, jumping with joy at his suddenly strengthened legs. And whom does he praise for this; the healer? Praise God, Whose Name alone has done such a wonderful miracle with him. And the Orthodox healer himself calmly goes on to preach the Gospel to the people.

This is the essential thing that can be said briefly here about the difference between “healers through magic” and holy Christian miracle workers.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

And with “harmless divination”, Nikolai, things are the same. And divination is the same “black box” in which there is some action at the entrance, and at the exit – a result in the form of a prediction of someone’s fate or an event. And the question arises: if this is all just a game, a harmless prank, and the man does not believe in divination, then why bother with it at all?

And if he still, albeit a little, but believes, then he has every reason to think – how this thing works. Because this is not about some trifles – the fate of man is clarified, sometimes for years and decades to come. What is this powerful force that can help a person see the future, and in such dubious manipulations as pouring wax, spilling coffee grounds and card solitaires?

It would be simplest to attribute this power to God – only He has the absolute fullness of knowledge about everything, and for Him the future is as open as the past and the present. But such an answer is completely out of the question, because in the Bible God speaks of such activities, very simply and unambiguously: “Do not heal or foretell.” (Lev. 19:26).

Then who is in the “black box” and provides the necessary information at the exit?

It seems that in the “harmless” divinations and divinations we risk again turning to the enemy of the human race. And this is always associated with misery and harm to man; if not physically, then probably spiritually.

The thing is, fallen angels don’t know the future, and for that reason, they can’t predict it. On the other hand, they can create a scenario for the person, symbolically express it in divination, convince him of his “truth” and consistently direct the life of the trusted unfortunate to the final point of their “prediction”.

Oddly enough, even modern science has drawn attention to this phenomenon, naming it The Self-Fulfilling Prophesy. Its author, the American sociologist Robert Merton, formulated the mechanism of such a prediction as follows: “Self-fulfilling prophecy is a falsely defined situation, provoking new behavior that turns the original false image into reality.”

Simply put, a person’s belief in the prophecy begins to change his behavior in such a way that the prediction eventually comes true. One of the clearest examples of this kind can be considered the well-known from everyone’s school desk “Song of the Wise Oleg” by Pushkin. There the prince was so concerned with the sorcerer’s prediction of his death, which his beloved horse would bring him, that he immediately gave it to his servants for life. And when he learned that his horse was dead, for some reason he went to examine his remains, stepped on the horse’s skull and received a deadly bite from a snake crawling out of the skull. And would the prince have gone wandering among the horse’s bones, and digging them with his foot, if he had not believed in the magician in the past? The question must be superfluous.

Indeed, the American sociologist does not include demons in his reasoning; he is therefore a scientist. On the other hand, in his definition sounds the word, which is extremely important for understanding what actually happens in divination. This word is “lie” – a false definition of a false idea.

And believers are well aware of who the Scriptures call the spirit of lies. This is the fallen angel himself – the devil, about whom the Lord says: “He was a murderer from the beginning and did not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44).

The ancient Romans had a doctrine of fatum – predestination, the inevitable fate that awaits man, no matter what. This pagan principle still underlies divination today. The person who has decided to engage in divination, consciously or vaguely believes that his destiny is static, like a finished painting, already painted by a metaphysical artist. And that everything that happens to him in life is just another fragment of a giant canvas, which is gradually revealed to him. But he wants to see the future and the day after tomorrow… And if he can, he can see the whole picture. Although, if you think about it, what is the use of such knowledge, even if it is real, if you know for sure that you can not change anything you see? And given that you know that in the “black box” between casting wax and “knowing” your fate, you can hide the father of lies, who has always been a murderer…? Perhaps divination, Nikolai, is not as harmless as you write. And it is no coincidence that the Church warns its members about it.

Christianity also presupposes a general picture of human life. But unlike all kinds of pagan fatalism, this painting is not a complete canvas. Every moment we draw new details on it, change the plot, invent new forms. Although, of course, there is some initial predestination here as well.

Christians believe that God has a unique plan for everyone, in which the highest good for this person consists. But to follow God’s plan or to oppose it is a personal free choice of each of us. And the Christian can know God’s will for himself by comparing his actions with the Holy Scriptures, the teachings of the saints and his own conscience. Let’s say that you are offered a well-paid job, where your obligations will include systematic fraud of the company’s partners or users of its services. As this fraud is generally unpunished – all activities are formally within the law. And you know that “every one that doeth iniquity is an abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 25:16). And depending on your decision, your further life will either get closer to God’s plan for you, or will move away from it.

This is how we all paint the picture of our lives – moving, plastic and unfinished to our last breath. So divination is an absolutely pointless activity for a Christian, and because there is simply no pre-painted picture of his future in his worldview.

As Saint Basil the Great writes: “Do not be curious about the future, but dispose of the present with benefit. Because, what is the use for you to foresee God’s decision? If the future will bring you something good, it will come without knowing it in advance. And if it’s something sad, why bother in advance? Do you want to be sure of the future? Do what is required by the Law of the Gospel and expect enjoyment of the good. ”

Photo: Icon “Devils at an aerial toll house”

Source: The article by Alexander Tkachenko was published in the magazine foma.ru

Steve Hanke: Inflation is rising in the eurozone, the Bulgarian people will lose

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Newsdesk
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Get rid of the secrets. There should be a series of studies, talk and public debate, as well as a referendum, the economist recommends

The Bulgarian people will lose if they join the eurozone. This will increase the risk of higher inflation. Why the Bulgarian society will want something that is risky – this is a political decision, commented to bTV the world-famous economist Prof. Steve Hanke, who introduced the currency board system in Bulgaria.

He also criticized the way in which the introduction of the euro was being addressed.

“This is the old approach of Borissov’s government, which was trying to do so – secretly from society,” the economist said. According to him, there is no economic analysis of the benefits and the price for society and the economy from the introduction of the euro, we need an analysis of the BNB and the Ministry of Finance.

“Get rid of the secrets. There needs to be a series of surveys, talk and public debate, and a referendum,” Steve Hanke recommended.

“Yes, you have a new government and I know that the coalition is discussing the introduction of the euro. But first let’s let the sun shine. Why would you want to change the currency board system, which works very well. Why abandon it and how exactly. Lithuania and Estonia are the countries with the highest inflation rates in the euro area – 16% in Lithuania and 15% in Estonia. inflation is only 10.5%, “said Prof. Hanke, who is a staunch opponent of the eurozone.

He is adamant that the risk of rising inflation is much higher if we adopt the euro and abandon the currency board.

“Does the Bulgarian public support this? No. About 60-70% of Bulgarians do not want to give up the currency board. It is politically unpopular in Bulgaria to do so. In addition, Bulgaria does not meet the criteria for joining the eurozone, why are you in a hurry. “The whole idea is crazy,” the economist said.

If you read the EU membership agreement carefully, it is your obligation to eventually join the euro, but it is not specified when. How would things develop if Bulgaria was in the eurozone and it collapsed?

A historic day for the EU’s hydrogen industry: An electrolysis boom is on the way

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Business and the EC have declared a commitment to a tenfold increase in production capacity in Europe

Manufacturers of electrolytic cells in Europe have committed to increase their production capacity tenfold – to 17.5 GW per year by 2025. This is part of a joint declaration with the European Commission, which was presented in Brussels recently.

The joint declaration was agreed at a summit on electrolysis issues in Brussels and was signed on May 5th by 20 chief executives of the industry along with EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, Euractiv reported.

“Today, the industry has agreed to a tenfold increase in the capacity of electrolytic cells in Europe. The Commission will support this important industrial boost for industrial leadership in clean energy technologies of the future,” Breton said. The increase in capacity will allow the annual production of 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen in Europe by 2030, the Commission said in a statement.

The goal is in line with plans presented in March by the EU executive to end the EU’s dependence on Russian gas “long before 2030”. and accelerating the transition to clean energy sources.

To support the rapid growth of the industry, the joint declaration includes a commitment from the EU executive to put in place a supportive regulatory framework, facilitate access to finance and promote efficient supply chains.

The joint statement said this included “a legislative proposal to speed up the issuance of permits for renewable energy projects” and a faster review of state aid notifications sent to Brussels. Manufacturers of electrolytic cells, for their part, are committed to applying only for high-quality project proposals that are fully in line with the EU’s climate goals.

Jon Andre Locke, CEO of Nel Hydrogen and President of Hydrogen Europe, called it a “historic day” for the EU electrolysis industry. “It is time to bring the talks to action,” he added on Twitter, warning that there would be no “acceleration of electrolysis production in Europe without adequate regulatory and financial support.”

The EU is a world leader in the production of electrolyzers. Although China-made electrolyzers are cheaper, they are also considered less efficient and reliable than Chinese manufacturers themselves, according to Recharge.

“German and European companies are in an excellent position to produce key components for the value chains of the hydrogen economy – vehicles, transport solutions, cells, fuel cells,” said Veronica Grimm, an economist who is a member of the Hydrogen Council in Germany.

Bosch, the German industrial giant, is among the companies in the best position to compete in the global electrolysis market. Earlier this week, the engineering and technology company announced a 500m-euro investment in research into hydrogen cell components.

Hydrogen will be essential for Europe’s future economy, especially for storing and transporting green energy. This was stated recently before the European Parliament by the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Climate Affairs Frans Timmermans. “I strongly believe in green hydrogen as the driving force of our energy system of the future,” Timmermans said at a meeting with the European Parliament’s environment committee, Euractiv reported.

“Hydrogen will be a key element in our economy of the future,” he added in a discussion on the impact of the war in Ukraine, the state of new European climate legislation and food security.

The European Commission is proposing long-term partnerships that will start with the supply of LNG and “end in the hydrogen economy”, Timmermans said. “Does this link our long-term to LNG supplies? Not if we offer long-term cooperation projects that switch to hydrogen,” he explained.

Timmermans envisions a hydrogen economy around the Mediterranean, where each country is dependent on the other and each has a “share in this production, distribution and use of green hydrogen”. “This is the future,” Timmermans said. “In this way, you also create more stability in the geopolitical system. This is how you offer a huge opportunity for the development of Africa.”

Europe “will never be able to produce enough hydrogen of its own,” Timmermans said. He added that green hydrogen produced from renewable energy is the European Commission’s preferred option, but blue hydrogen produced from fossil gas with carbon capture and storage to tackle emissions would also be a temporary option.

The EU is already looking beyond its borders when it comes to future supplies of renewable hydrogen.

The ideal case would be to transport renewable electricity by cable from European partners in the EU, but when this is not possible, energy can be stored in hydrogen or ammonia and transported to Europe. It would also provide more green hydrogen for the EU to help decarbonise difficult electrification sectors, including aviation and heavy industry.

But others are less convinced of the hydrogen future. During the meeting, centrist MEP Nils Torvalds warned of the “hydrogen boom” being talked about in Europe, citing reports of its leaks into the atmosphere and its impact as a greenhouse gas.

A study by the UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industry warns that hydrogen is estimated to be at best six times worse than CO2 for a climate over a 100-year period.

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