4. • Mere mention of the Mungiki, a shadowy and secretive
religious sect with alleged historical ties to the Mau Mau
uprising in the 1950s, evokes fear in many Kenyans who
see it as a mafia-like criminal enterprise intent on
fomenting chaos. And their name means “a united
people”.
• But Kenya’s Mungiki followers are no ordinary believers.
• Their holy communion is tobacco-sniffing, their hairstyle
that of the Mau Mau dreadlocks and the origin of the sect
is still shrouded in mystery.
• Since the late 1990s, the sect has left behind a trail of
blood in its rejection of the trappings of Western culture.
5. • Particular technologies of surveillance and control arouse concern that has bordered upon, or
crossed over into, conspiracy theory. These are technologies being developed by governments
which are intended to intrude into the privacy or harm the persons of citizens, particularly
dissenters. Conspiracy theories of this sort cast government agencies as pursuing vast technical
powers in order to spy on people, control their minds, or otherwise suppress an alienated
populace. The plausibility of establishing such surveillance capabilities, by technical means or by
a widespread network of informants, should perhaps be viewed in the context of events in former
Eastern bloc countries, particularly the activities of the East German Stasi before the fall of the
Berlin Wall. The various services provided by Google have also been considered to invade
people's privacy, thus enabling intelligence agencies to monitor their activities.[citation needed]
• Many governments use intelligence agencies to promote national policies in secretive ways — in
several cases including the use of sabotage, propaganda, and assassination. Intelligence
agencies, such as the CIA, KGB, MI6, BND and Mossad, are a common element of political
conspiracy theories precisely because they are known to participate in some activities similar to
those described in conspiracy theories.[29] Indeed, conspiracy theories about espionage
agencies go back at least as far as the 17th century, with allegations the English spymaster
Robert Cecil was responsible for the Gunpowder plot of 1605. Some examples include the
Pine Gap satellite tracking system in Australia, which is believed by some to be a global database
used to track individuals Big Brother style, and the Government Warehouse, which is a
conspiracy that alleges that the government has secret warehouses which contain articles that
they do not want people to know about.
• Numerous theories have been put forward surrounding Korean Air Lines Flight 007, a Boeing
747, carrying 269 people including anti-communist Cong. Larry McDonald. KAL 007 was shot
down near Moneron Island by the Soviet military after it strayed into prohibited airspace in 1983.
[30] These theories started in a Cold War era of heightened tensions and mutual distrust, and
have been fanned by subsequent misinformation, deception, suppression of evidence and
political events.
• [
6. Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, Chilworth;
Came across this whilst out walking this weekend. Doesn’t seem to
have been mentioned here before, it is a series of ruined buildings
dating from the 1880s. Not really anything major to see, but it makes a
pleasant walk in the woods!
7. Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, Chilworth;
Came across this whilst out walking this weekend. Doesn’t seem to
have been mentioned here before, it is a series of ruined buildings
dating from the 1880s. Not really anything major to see, but it makes a
pleasant walk in the woods!
