AFA Membership - Is It for You?

Do you like what you see here? Do you like what you see when you go to our web site, http://runestone.org? Do you agree with the principles outlined in the AFA’s Declaration of Purpose? The AFA is a membership organization and we are always interested in recruiting men and women who believe in our principles and want to take a stand for our Gods, our Folk, and a better world. You can see full membership information at http://runestone.org/membership/index.html.

"Kennewick Man" May Be Given to Indian Tribes

The 9,300 year-old skeleton named “Kennewick Man” may be turned over to a confederation of Indian tribes, eleven years after being recovered from the banks of the Columbia River near Kennewick, Washington.

The change in his status has nothing to do with his likely ethnicity or origin, but rather with a proposed change in a law governing the disposition of ancient human remains found in the United States..

What’s that got to do with us? Plenty.

From the very beginning, Kennewick Man’s ancestry was disputed. Scientists and other trained specialists noted that the remains were not Mongoloid in appearance. In fact, as some noted, he looked a lot like a European. The words “Caucasoid” and even “Caucasian” were being muttered - and not just by journalists.

Since that early controversy, the realization has grown that America was peopled from several sources long before Asians walked across the Bering Strait. Likely competitors for the title of “the first Americans” include Southeast Asians, and Europeans. However, if the law is changed, all these early remains will be turned over to local Indian tribes. Since there will be little or no scientific study, we may never know where Kennewick Man or his many cousins came from.

Early migrations of Europeans to America will be forever lost to science and to history. We have a problem with that, and we have a problem with our ancestors being claimed by, and buried among, another folk.

So what evidence is there that Europeans were here before the Indians? A comprehensive summary would be beyond the scope of this update, but, in brief:

The earliest skeletal remains in America are distinctly different from those of living American Indians or their Mongoloid ancestors.

Stone tools of the “Clovis” style resemble those of ancient Spain and France. There is nothing like them in the area adjacent to the Bering Strait.

Clovis points in America are buried in ochre-covered caches exactly like those found in Europe.

The presence of the genetic marker “haploid x” in Northeastern Indian tribes proves pre-Columbian contact with Europe.

Tribal legends from (at least) Texas to the Pacific Northwest speak of tall, red-haired, light-skinned people who inhabited the land before the Indians. The Indians claim they exterminated them.

Simulations of Ice Age climate show that a bridge of ice extended across the Atlantic from Spain to Canada. The ice would have provided rich hunting and fishing for westward-bound European adventurers. (An excellent dramatization of this scenario, based on current knowledge, is the DVD Ice Age Columbus, produced by the Discovery Channel, which you can order here: http://shopping.discovery.com/product-59637.html .)

This is compelling evidence - at least compelling enough to warrant careful study of early skeletal remains. But if the politicians get their way, it won’t happen…and magnificent explorations by our European kin will be buried, forever. A part of our past will have been stolen.

For background on the present legislative crisis:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003923102_wased04.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WST_Kennewick_Man.html

For an organization (non-Asatru, and with no ethno-political interests) that opposes this cover up, go to the “Friends of America’s Past” web site:

http://www.friendsofpast.org/

To interpret our stand on this issue as “anti-Indian” is a mistake. We respect all indigenous peoples and recognize their right to exist and to work out their destiny in the ways of their ancestors. On many issues, I will side with the tribes and I am the first to agree they should have control over the bodies of their dead. Nor do I have an interest in abrogating their treaty rights. On the subject of Kennewick Man and other likely European migrants to North America, however, we will have to disagree.

All peoples deserve respect…and that includes our people, those of us who are of Germanic descent, part of the Greater Family of European peoples.

Legislation Proposed to Counter Kennewick Man Give-Away

Legislation has been proposed to keep Kennewick Man - and many similar sets of human remains - from being surrendered to Indian tribes.

http://lawlib.lclark.edu/blog/native_america/?p=581

The web site for the Congressman introducing this legislation is:

http://hastings.house.gov/INDEX.aspx

The Asaspace Technology Group

“Exploration and technology have been a hallmark of Asatru culture and in this discussion group we hope to develop ideas to continue and promote that tradition. We seek to develop ideas for creating a spacefaring Asatru civilization. This includes ideas of culture, technology, and religion.”

With these bold words on its Yahoo web site, the Asaspace Technology Group explains its purpose to the world. On the ATG list you will find links and discussion relating to space science and exploration, all set in the (often unspoken) context of Asatru.

We need to develop a generation of Asatruar to take our religion into the future, applying our spiritual values and wisdom in ever-new ways. Our Folk must be active in today’s frontiers, and in those of tomorrow. We sons and daughters of Europe have powerful competition from an ascendant Asia, as described here: http://www.physorg.com/news110359952.html

In 2004, China graduated 500,000 engineers…India produced 200,000…and the United States turned out 70,000. What does this bode for the West?

If your have an interest in both the spiritual Way of the Germanic peoples and the exploration of space, go to http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/asaspace/?yguid=99488093

Our People and Our Culture - Links

We are a people - Germanic people, part of the Greater Family of European peoples, following the ways of our ancestors.

Only when we realize we are a river will we stop drowning in puddles.

Norwegian petroglyphs deliberately damaged - Ancient petroglyphs in the Ostfold region of southeastern Norway were damaged with felt pens, sharp stones, and nail polish in a recent incident. The account speaks of the importance of preserving historical sites and the works of ancient people, but never was there a hint of ancestors, of our people. Do the Norwegians feel a kinship, a real connection, with the long-dead men and women who carved these petroglyphs? I do not know; surely some must, but this is not evident from the article.

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2039228.ece

Icelandic documentary to focus on our Lore - A three-part documentary on the sagas and Norse history will premier this fall in Iceland. A dozen reenactments of saga scenes will bring the material to life, and much of our mythic lore will be presented for background. A DVD of the documentary will be produced in Icelandic, German, and English.

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/features/multimedia/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=290524

To see a trailer, go to http://youtube.com/watch?v=43bpchgW6VQ

Runestone fragment found in the stonework of a Norwegian church - A runestone dating from the 13^th or 14^th century has been uncovered in a church in Rogaland. The inscription, which is of a Christian nature, concerns the death of a local farmer.

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2033018.ece

Leif Erikson statue unveiled in Seattle - A repaired and refurbished statue of the Norse explorer Leif Erikson has been set in place at the Shilshoe Bay Marina. It has been enhanced by a ship-shaped arrangement of large stones surrounding the figure. It was dedicated on October 7^th, as part of the local Scandinavian Heritage Day celebration.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003909394_leifreturns28m.html

Viking Age cabin discovered in Iceland? - Archeologists in western Iceland have discovered a mountain cabin that may date back to the Viking Age. The oval structure, made of two layers of rock with turf stuffed between for insulation, was apparently used by cattle herders.

http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=290480

Freedom and Asatru - Links

Our Western traditions of freedom under law derive overwhelmingly from the culture of Northern Europe. (Both words, "freedom" and "law," have Teutonic roots.) It is our task to maintain this gift from our ancestors. In Asatru, freedom is a religious issue!

House committee begins NSA wiretap investigation - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has begin its investigation into wiretapping by the National Security Agency, querying Verizon, Qwest, and AT&T regarding the scope of the program and the nature of the information given to the government.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071004-house-committee-begins-investigation-into-nsa-wiretap.html

British government given unprecedented access to telephone calls - Some 795 public bodies, from national institutions down to local councils, will have access to every call made in the country under a new plan that went into effect October 1^st.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=484752&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

UK 2017: Daily life in the surveillance society - This article describes a report just issued in England describing life in that country ten years from now. It is not based on wild speculation, but on present technology and on the stated intentions of politicians and planners.

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1741454.0.0.php

The Environment and Asatru - Links

The Earth is our mother, called variously in our mythic lore Frigga, Nerthus, and Jord. As the most intelligent species on the planet, humans end up making many decisions for all the other forms of life that live here - so let us choose wisely.

Melting Greenland ice cap causing earthquakes - As chunks of ice several cubic kilometers in size break off, they are triggering minor earthquakes locally. Some glaciers are moving into the sea three times as fast as they were ten years ago.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/sep/08/climatechange

Amazon jungle could be gone in 40 years, say campaigners - According to Conservation International, the Amazon rainforest is threatened by new transportation routes opening up formerly inaccessible regions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/02/conservation

A very special Polish valley threatened by development - It’s only about ten square kilometers in extent, and thus very vulnerable to planned development. What’s special about it? “Some of Europe's last wild boar, Eurasian lynx and wolves roam the fens; white-tailed and lesser-spotted eagles breed here. This is Poland's last refuge of rare musk orchids. The European Habitats Directive list of the species most in need of protection includes four mammals, 23 birds and two plants found in the valley.”

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2175035,00.html

Wind-up radios, small solar arrays, LED lights, solar-powered radios, and more! - The C Crane company is world-famous for its energy-saving products that perfect for power outages, Ragnarok, and other inconveniences.

http://www.ccrane.com

Home Power Magazine - Here’s a publication that helps you design and build your own home power system, including solar, hydro, and wind. You can download a free sample copy, and they have a special series of introductory articles for those of you who are new to all this.

http://www.homepower.com