The Newcomer's Influence

(February 3, 2001) Saturn in opposition to Pluto is the newcomer on the block this year. It will be around from Summer 2001 into May of 2002. Here's some history on this newcomer that may give us clues to the likely themes to develop over the next year:

1931: Scottsboro Affair; Nevada legalized divorce; Al Capone was convicted on tax evasion; the unemployed fight to establish the minimum wage; Japan occupies Manchuria.

1947: The Taft-Hartley Act passed; Cold War policies established by Truman.

1956: Rosa Parks refuses to move to the back of the bus; bus boycott by Martin Luther King, Jr.; Fidel Castro lands on the coast of Cuba, launching revolution against Batista regime; Elvis sings, "Love Me Tender," "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog," and "Heartbreak Hotel."

1965-66: Vietnam War and the anti-war protests; NAACP creates a movement against government; Malcolm X is shot; The Black Panthers are formed; Martin Luther King, Jr. marches; Ralph Nader takes on the auto industry writing, "Unsafe At Any Speed"; the first endangered species list is released. In foreign news: the Congo's Sese Mobutu assumes power in a bloodless coup; Indonesia joins the UN; Rhodesia is denied recognition by the UN; France rebukes Russia and US.

1973-74: Global energy crisis; Nixon pushes for conservation of energy; the World Trade Center becomes the "calling card" for NYC (9.12.02 -- WTC was completed during Saturn opposition Pluto AND destroyed during Saturn opposition Pluto); Yom Kippur War; the U.S. aides Israel to offset Soviet support of Arab forces, UN calls cease fire; Roe vs. Wade; Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns for tax evasion, and Gerald Ford takes his place.

1982: In Washington D.C., dedication of Maya Lin's haunting memorial to those killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War; Argentina invades the Faulkland Islands; Alice Walker publishes the Color Purple; violence re-ignites between Israelis and the PLO (2.16.01 -- Bush administration bombs Iraq and meets with harsh criticism due to current tensions between Arabs and Jews).

1993: Spielberg releases "Shindler's List"; Holocaust Memorial dedicated in Washington, D.C.; Branch Davidian Complex is burned down in Waco, TX; Bill Clinton institutes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gays in the military; Czechoslovakia splits into two new countries; bombing of the World Trade Center; 12 U.S. soldiers killed in Somalia; Nancy Kerrigan is assaulted by Tanya Harding in an attempt to eliminate her from competition in Olympic figure-skating events; commemorative stamp of Elvis issued.

My prognosis includes: more power shortages and energy conservation become a national predicament; a conservative approach to the environment, e.g., Alaska oil; satellite communications become a target; elements of the Cold War will be back; over the summer there will be more protests and potential riots over racial and religious issues, e.g., NAACP gains momentum; Women's Rights stand out; WTO protesters and Arab nations continue to fight globalization; Gridlock, or is the politically correct term Dead Lock now?; genetically engineered food is likely to be a growing issue; Pakistan and India face difficult challenges September 2-4, e.g., Kashmir, earthquake recovery; transportation industries -- auto, aviation, and railroad -- will face many difficult challenges, beginning the end of April 2001 through May 2003.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Democrats continue to recount the vote in Florida until they win -- negating the first 100 recounts. I expect to continue hearing about Saddam Hussein and threats of chemical warfare. Pakistan and India have a difficult road this year -- potentially harming many innocent lives, e.g., Kashmir -- Earthquake recovery? May 6 is a key date to the above power plays, but follow the upswing of the New to Full Moon between April 23 and May 7, 2001. The First Quarter Moon is bound to be the clincher.

References:

1) Michelsen, N. (1990), Tables of Planetary Phenomenon. San Diego.

2) http://www.historychannel.com