Scientists are acknowledging that animals are not just autonomous robots, like previously believed, but conscious beings capable of the same feelings and emotions that humans experience. Probably no big surprise there to our readers. On a related note, we've been conducting research as to whether or not humans are conscious beings, though so far the results are inconclusive...

From Psychology Today:

Every now and again I receive an email message I ignore after reading the subject line. I know I’m not alone in following this rule of thumb, but today I broke down and opened a message the subject line of which read “Scientists Declare: Nonhuman Animals Are Conscious“. I honestly thought it was a joke, likely from one of my favorite newspapers, The Onion. However, it wasn’t.

Source: www.preventdisease.com | Original Post Date: May 17, 2013 –

Hemp is a tall, beautiful and gracious looking annual plant that can reach heights over twelve feet. Although hemp (cannabis sativa) and marijuana (cannabis sativa var. indica) come from a similar species of plant, they are very different and confusion has been caused by deliberate misinformation with far reaching effects on socioeconomics as well as on environmental matters. The reason hemp is illegal is not because of any negative impact to the environment or human health, but exactly the opposite. It is so environmentally friendly, nutritionally and medicinally beneficial, that it provides too many abundant resources which would make it impossible for powerful corporations to compete.

This really happened. As crazy as it sounds, Hillary Clinton is trying to repackage her war-torn reputation into a populist spitting image of progressive icon Elizabeth Warren. The New York Times reports that “Mrs. Clinton pointed at the top category and said the economy required a ‘toppling’ of the wealthiest 1 percent, according to several people who were briefed on Mrs. Clinton’s policy discussions.”

The New York Times and Huffington Post didn’t bother asking the questions that should have been asked, with their reporting easily summed up by the opening line in the HuffPo peice: “Hillary Clinton believes that strengthening the middle class and alleviating income inequality will require ‘toppling’ the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, according to a New York Times profile published on Tuesday.” That statement, so far, has gone relatively unquestioned by the corporate media.

Source: www.psypressuk.com | Original Post Date: April 27, 2014 –

In 2003, Glasgow based documentary filmmaker David Graham Scott underwent ibogaine treatment for his long-term opiate addiction. After a single session at a London clinic, the director managed to put an end to his drug dependency. The experience is documented in his autobiographical 2004 film Detox or Die. This year, Scott returns with a follow-up. Although his new film, Iboga Nights, shows that iboga is far from a magic bullet for treating addiction, it does show that the psychedelic still has a great potential of becoming an acknowledged addiction interrupter.

During the three years it took to make the film, David Graham Scott followed various opiate addicts and iboga providers. He travelled to the Netherlands to witness treatments conducted by an experienced iboga therapist –– one of which had a very dramatic outcome –– as well as stepping in as a provider for a young musician named Sid during his treatment in his home in London. Besides conceiving the idea for the documentary, Scott also acted as cameraman, director and producer.