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12.7.14
Τοπολογια του Λακαν1-Φαντασιακο-Συμβολικο-Πραγματικο
The psychoanalytic world according to Dr. Jacques Lacan.
Real, Symbolic, Imaginary. Topologos on Webex;
session of September 10, 2011
by Dr. Jacques B. Siboni, Topologos Lutecium, Paris, San Francisco
Real, Symbolic, Imaginary. Topologos on Webex;
session of September 10, 2011
by Dr. Jacques B. Siboni, Topologos Lutecium, Paris, San Francisco
Ετικέτες
Λακανικη Τοπολογια
9.7.14
Astro-Biography-Alexander the Great
Conqueror and King of Macedonia
Born July 22, 356 BC, Pella, Macedonia, between 10 and 12 PM. (Source, Marc Penfield, who cites Die Astrologie, June 1927). Time used, 11 PM. Suggested rectification 11:04:08 PM. The chart must be considered speculative, but well supported by evidence from transits, progressions and directions. Died, June 13, 323 BC, Babylon.
The name Alexander the Great is synonymous with war, conquest and towering ambition. The Tibetan infers that he may have been one of those rare expressionsi.e., a pure ray typealong with Julius Caesar, the Buddha, the Christ and Leonardo da Vinci (EP I 73). Alexander and Caesar were clearly on the first ray line, the Buddha and the Christ on the second, and Leonardo on the fourth. In the brief, thirty-three year life of Alexander, he forced his way into the imagination, not only of his own era, but of the following two millennia. He was surely an extraordinary characterdramatic, merciless, magnanimous, terrifying, awe-inspiring, full of contradiction, unforgettable. Humanity, full of the sense of its own weakness, persistently admires the archetype of the invincible conqueror. Alexander came as close to fulfilling this archetype as any personage in recorded history, perhaps with the exception of Genghis Khan.
In colloquial speech we speak of a very ambitious person as one who is out to conquer the world. In the case of Alexander, this seemed literally true. A Macedonian, his obsessive military exploits took him to the east of the Hellenic states, where at length he became the conqueror of the entire Persian Empire. Never content with the vast and ever-increasing scope of his conquests, he pressed on to subdue what are now Baluchistan, Southern Afghanistan and Iran, and finally large portions of northern India, where only a mutiny of his nearly exhausted armies prevented him from seeking still further lands and peoples to overcome. Alexander was a driven man, obsessed with the need to vanquish the then-known world, and even worlds beyond. An explorer as well as a conqueror, he sought to prove his strength against the peoples of lands undreamt. He did not know who they were, but he had faith in his invincibility and his power to bend them to his will. Whether or not he sought to create a world empire is unknown, but for him, interestingly (and to his credit) conquest was never enough. It had to be followed by harmonization and attempted fusion. One can judge that the drive to create synthesis was, for him, an irresistible urgeno matter what the cost, to himself, his armies or to those over whom he repeatedly triumphed.
Whether or not Alexander was a first ray monad, as well, must remain, for the moment, undecided. Although he was a figure famous to many (and infamous to some), it could not be said that he functioned in a manner definitely inspired by the high spiritual level of the monad, though the possibility remains. The Master of the Wisdom will know Alexanders monadic ray; we human beings, who know much less, can only infer. Judging from the quality of Alexanders life, as history has recorded it, the degree of his spirituality (if spirituality is defined in relatively conventional terms) can be severely questioned, whereas the degree of his megalomania cannot. Yet, in relation to Alexander, Julius Caesar, the Buddha, the Christ and Leonardo, the Tibetan offers the suggestion that he could be considered an example of a pure ray type. Given the choice between types of major, or primary, monadic rays (the first, second and third), it is hard to believe that Alexander could have been anything other than a first ray monad. As for the various subrays, and other qualifiers on the monadic, triadal and egoic levels, we are as yet in no position to judge with accuracy.
The astrological chart chosen for Alexander is speculative but has much to recommend it. It differs significantly (in date, time and even in year) from other speculative charts (as might be expected with so ancient a chart), though most accounts place his birth in July, in the year 356 BC. The time for the chart used is suggested (by Marc Penfield) as between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM in Pella, Macedonia, in the year 356 BC. An average time of 11:00 AM is selected. Selection in this manner could seem a very crude and arbitrary process, indeed, and one unlikely to yield any degree of accuracy, yet surprisingly, the hour of 11:00 AM may be very close to the correct time of birth. Coincidentally (if it is a coincidence) the symbol for the 19th degree of Aries rising is The Magic Carpet of Oriental Imagery. We have very little to do to imagine the idea of the Persian Carpet, as we remember Alexanders great and continuous movement to the East as the conqueror of the entire Persian Empire. If we move the birth time forward a mere four minutes and eight seconds, we would find the beginning of the twenty-first degree of Aries risinga degree entitled A PUGILIST ENTERS THE RING, The release and glorification of social aggressiveness, a keyword for which, in Dane Rudhyars opinion is OVERWHELMING POWER. Suffice it to say that such a symbol would be most apt for the life and character of Alexander, one of the most ruthless and invincible conquerors of recorded history.
Whichever of these two rising degree we choose to use, charts calculated for 11:00 AM, or 11:04:08+ (or some time in between, such as 11:01 AM or 11:01:30 AM) prove convincing in a number of ways which shall be demonstrated. The charts for 11:01 to 11:04 AM, however, suffer from the Ascendants association with Sabian Symbols that seem inappropriate. These Aries Rising charts also demonstrate the presence of a most powerful, astrologically-based first ray through which the ray of the soul (or monad) could manifest. Aries, the principal astrological sign/constellation, through which the first ray manifests most forcefully is, significantly, the Ascendant (with Leo and, consequently, the Sun as the decanate ruler in the 11:00 AM chart). If the 11:04:08+ chart is more correct, then, according to the Tibetan, Mars is the decanate ruler, which is certainly justifiable.
The first ray is dramatically accentuated by the presence of Pluto, planet of death and destruction, rising in Arieswhether in the first or twelfth house, it makes no difference, so close is Pluto the Ascendant. First ray Pluto (regardless of the exact degree of the proposed Aries Ascendant) is placed in the Leo decanate of Aries, reinforcing, thereby, the powerful presence of the first ray, for Leo is partially a first ray sign/constellation. There is an astrological triangle known as Aries-Pluto-Shamballa. Pluto is, indeed, intimately connected with first ray Aries and with Shamballa (the main source on our planet of the First Ray of Will or Power). Alexander (if he could be called a disciple) would reasonably, along with certain others, be called a disciple of Shamballa:
The men who inspired the initiating French revolution; the great conqueror, Napoleon; Bismarck, the creator of a nation; Mussolini, the regenerator of his people; Hitler who lifted a distressed people upon his shoulders; Lenin, the idealist, Stalin and Franco are all expressions of the Shamballa force and of certain little understood energies. (EXH 133)
That those who represent and express Shamballa do not always have a positive effect upon humanity, can be seen by considering the relative moral merits of the individuals mentioned above.
By considering the conjoining of Aries and Pluto at the Ascendant, we can see what a powerful conduit existed in Alexanders astrological chart for the Ray of the Destroyer. His relentlessness, ruthlessness, mercilessness (at times) and apparent invincibility are thereby explainedat least astrologically. He would allow nothing to stand in the way of his conquests. Those who resisted were annihilated. Those who accepted his domination were (paradoxically, in the eyes of many) treated with respect and an unusual degree of what can only be described as generosity and civility. Often, he seemed to treat them as the equals of his conquering Macedonians.
The first ray is also represented by first ray Uranus (i.e., monadically first ray) in first ray Capricorn at the MC (a position on the astrological angles or cross which is closely associated with the first ray). Alexander was powerfully Uranian in his nature (unpredictable, reorganizational, establishmental). He was a potent restructuring force in the Hellenic World and the Asiatic empires he conquered. Aries, the sign of the new, is also a conduit for the seventh ray of manifestationof which Uranus is also a transmitter. It is said by one of his biographers that Alexander inaugurated (Aries) about 70 new cities. Aries, it will be remembered, is hierarchically ruled by the planet, Uranusespecially in the case of initiates. It is difficult to judge Alexander as a true initiate, so it will be wise to pause before deciding that Uranus can be considered effective as a hierarchical ruler of the proposed Ascendant in his chart. As an elevated planet conjunct the MC, Uranus was, however, definitely effective. Placed in the sign Capricorn (a major sign of manifestation and anchoring) we can see why he was able to inaugurate and establish these cities, and, in general, to institute his inspirations. Not only was Uranus conjunct the MC but rather closely parallel to it as well (parallels of declination).
At a certain point in his career Alexander became convinced that he was a god, which, if true, would indicate a spiritual status far above and beyond that of an initiate. As his life continued, he insisted that others treat him as divine, complete with all the obsequies due a deity. In truth, he was no more a god than any other human being (who, as a monad, is, indeed, a god), and the probability is, that he was no high initiate, but rather an extremely powerful, versatile, talented personality who appropriated the first ray of his soul in manifestly destructive ways. Whether he was an initiate of the threshold (i.e., an initiate of the first or second degree) can be debated. There can be little doubt that he was an individual of great courage and intelligence and, on occasion, of heart, but he loomed too large in his own importance to be called a true initiate. Further, through repeated and prolonged drinking-bouts (in one of which, enraged by drink, he murdered a military comrade he otherwise valued highly), he demonstrated that he was far indeed from achieving emotional controla characteristic of those who have achieved the second degree.
The Ray of the Personality: When considering a hypothesis for the personality ray, the fourth ray of Harmony through Conflict, which is, in certain respects, very much the ray of the warrior, seems a strong possibility. Alexander was not a consistent character by any means. There are a number of well-documented sudden and dramatic reversals of attitude in his life. He was often remorseful over his excesses and, for a great conqueror, apologetic and full of regretful grief. It seems he had all the adolescence of character typical of an inflamed (Aries) fourth ray type, and was the victim, as well, of the self-celebratory narcissism typical of those upon that ray (and influenced strongly by that sign).
It was always difficult to predict what Alexander would do, a fact which may have contributed much to his continue successes over enemies. He was quick to anger, but suddenly generous and forgiving as well. He would take tremendous risks (both to himself and his men), but was, on other occasions, extremely cautious or wisely flexible in situations which demanded it. As a general he has a certain spontaneous adaptability and improvisatory quality typical of the fourth ray. He was given to fourth ray excesses of characterat times utterly unrestrained, undisciplinedDionysian in the extreme; at other times, he was the strictest of disciplinarians. Such inconsistencies are typical of the fourth ray.
His treatment of (cooperative) conquered enemies was typically fourth ray in nature, for he sought harmony with all compliant, subjugated peoples by restoring to them many, if not all, of their former privileges, which, as their conqueror, he could easily have retained for himself and his Macedonian armies. Once he was well-established as the conqueror of Persia, he treated Persian culture as the equal of Macedonian culture and traditions, and many subservient Persian rulers as the equals of his Macedonian and Greek comrades in arms. In a way, he adored Persian culture (adopting its customs and trappings) and was judged (by his disgruntled Macedonian soldiers) to elevate it far beyond its true worth. He sought a broad-scale harmony between Persians, Macedonians and Greeks, and encouraged his men to take Macedonian brides; he even paid them to do so. He, himself, took a Persian bridea daughter of the Persian emperor, Darius. He deliberately became the harmonizer of his conquered lands and peoples, envisioning himself grandly as a supremely tolerant, benevolent ruler. His method was so oftenfirst severe conflict and conquest, followed by the promotion of a pervasive harmony entirely in contrast with the furious conflict he had precipitated. This is behavior typical of the interplay between the first and fourth rays, especially when aggravated by the fiery impulses of Aries and modified by the personal sensitivity of Cancer.
Two of the three signs/constellations which serve as conduits for the fourth ray, are tenanted in Alexanders chartSaturn, the ruler of the MC, placed in fourth ray Taurus, and the fourth ray Moon placed in the very first degree of fourth ray Scorpio. This Moon position is powerful indeed, and a good argument for speculatively delaying the time of Alexanders birth until approximately 11:00 AM, when the Moon entered destructive, war-like Scorpio. Fourth ray Mercury, the esoteric ruler of the Aries Ascendant is placed in the fourth sign, Cancer, and is widely trine to the fourth ray Scorpio Moon. If 21º of Aries is rising (the apt symbol for which is, A Pugilist Enters the Ring), then Sagittarius, which, with Taurus and Scorpio, is a distributor of the fourth ray, is the sub-ruler of the decanate of the Rising Sign.
Alexanders Sun Sign (like that of Julius Caesars) is, both tropically and sidereally considered, Cancernot a sign which one would normally associate with a conqueror, for this sign often produces in men a rather effeminate psychology. Both Alexander and Caesar are reputed to have had a number of homosexual liaisons. Caesar, for instance, notorious for his sexual excesses, was known as every womans husband and every mans wife, and Alexander, though he married a number of women, had a male best friend, Hephaestion, who was almost certainly, so some affirm, his lover. Sexual ambiguity is often associated with the artistic fourth ray. A study of history will reveal that Alexander was closely tied to his mother, for whose sake he became temporarily estranged from and hostile to his father, Philip II of Macedonia, when Philip took yet another wife. The attitude of obsessive conquest so dramatically evidenced by Alexander can be interpreted as a huge over-compensation for the passivity and effeminacy of his Cancerian nature. The one most driven to conquer is, from the psychological perspective, often the one most fearful of being conqueredin this case by the mother force. It is interesting that in one of the most convincing astrological charts for Genghis Khan, there is to be found a fourth house Cancer Moon and, as history tells the story, the great Khan both feared and respected his mother, who was the only person who seemed to have power over him. Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor, is said to have been ruled by his wife.
That Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac is significant. Its orthodox ruler is the fourth ray Moon, strengthened in its fourth ray nature by being placed in fourth ray Scorpio. Since Ascending Aries is esoterically ruled by fourth ray Mercury, which is trine to the fourth ray Scorpio Moon, the fourth ray is potently accentedespecially in its conflict side (because two Martian signs are strongly involved). The orthodox ruler of the Ascendant is Mars, placed in Gemini, the sign over which fourth ray Mercury orthodoxly rules. Mars in Gemini is also significant for a battle between the pairs of opposites, and would contribute to the fact that Alexanders facile, intelligent mind was a great instrument of war. This position of Mars would promote a conflict within his own nature which aggravated his already warlike tendencies.
The harmony side of the fourth ray is accentuated by the presence of affiliative, unitive Juno rising (albeit in aggressive Aries, making it the initiator of marriages). Further, the Vertex (the point of fate) is placed in compromising Libra. Most significantly perhaps, the orthodox ruler of fourth ray Taurus and of compromising Libra is Venus which is found in the fourth sign, Cancer, conjuncted to the Cancerian Sun. Venus would add to Alexanders effeminacy as well as to his charm and popularity. It would contribute to making him the best of friends. Other factorsPluto rising in Aries and the Scorpio Moon would make him the worst of enemies.
The Ray of the Lower Mind: From the records that exist, it is difficult to assess the ray of Alexanders lower mind. Certainly he could be decisive and authoritative, thus demonstrating the first ray. He could also be colorful and ironicqualities characteristic of the fourth ray. What is perhaps less known is that he had an active scientific and explorational interest, and was fascinated with the acquisition of new knowledge. Mars, as orthodox ruler of the Aries Ascendant, is in curious Gemini and quite close to the Placidus cusp of the third house of lower mind. As well, Mars and Mercury are only one minute of arc away from an exact parallel. It would be difficult (and perhaps lethal) to argue with Alexander. The Mars/Mercury parallel can be read in much the same way as Mars in Gemini and makes for an incisive, aggressively curious, mobile mind. Further, Mercury, the orthodox dispositor of Mars is found in the third house of the chart, in Cancer, a sign that emphasizes the third ray of mind. This Mercury is opposed within one degree to the elevated, scientific Uranus, giving the mind a definitely experimental and exploratory tinge. The Mercury/Uranus opposition, involving the third and ninth houses, emphasizes the possibility of a fifth ray component to the mind. The fifth ray would not necessarily be good in the field of battle because it is so deliberate, weighing up the facts, but it seems characteristic of Alexanders curiosity about the peoples and places he conquered. Interestingly, this was true of Napoleon, who, in the speculations of some, was the reincarnation of Alexander.
The Ray of the Astral Body: There seems little doubt that Alexander was possessed of (or by) a sixth ray astral body. He was the exponent of a Pan-Hellenic idealism and sought to bring Greek Culture to the then-known world. The great irony (characteristic of one for whom the fourth ray was so strong) was that he became the devotee of oriental culture, and in one of his characteristic reversals, sought then to impose Persian/Oriental culture not only on himself, personally, but on his Macedonian soldiers. In true fourth ray fashion, it seems he could not tolerate being only one thing or another, but had to be both.
A strong conduit of the sixth ray of idealism is the square, within one degree, between sixth ray Mars and sixth ray Neptune (placed in Virgo, a sign which partially distributes the sixth ray). Alexanders devotions (as with almost every characteristic of his life) were excessive. When his best friend Hephaestion, died in 324 BC, just a year before Alexanders own death, he engaged in the most extravagant mourning (born both of his devotion and flamboyant character), building a funeral pyre in Babylon which cost 10,000 talents (a huge sum and more than a kings ransom). It should be noted, in terms of parallels of declination, that sixth ray Neptune is parallel within less than a degree to the Ascendant. These Neptune positions establish Alexander as a visionaryand, as one who could be judged as an alcoholic.
Further indications of the presence of the sixth ray are as follows: Jupiter is placed in sixth ray Virgo, giving further weight to the power of the sixth ray. Two asteroids, devoted Vesta and nurturing Ceres, are placed in sixth ray Pisces, and in the twelfth house which is resonant to both Pisces and the sixth ray. Ceres, exactly trine to the Sun and closely trine to Venus, would add to the maternal, care-taking quality. When the family of the Persian Emperor Darius, was captured, they were treated with unaccustomed chivalry and entertained in an almost luxurious captivity, at great expense to Alexander. Clearly, there were softer, more generous and noble aspects to his character. The opposite was also true, as a number of seemingly close friends and companions discovered, The impulsive, subconscious Moon is placed in Scorpio, the sign of death, and in square to the nodal axis (the nodes indicating the place where people both come into the life and depart from it). Alexander, for all his flamboyance and apparent magnanimity, was inherently suspicious (Moon in Scorpio), and to lose his trust was to lose ones life.
The Ray of the Physical Body: This ray cannot reliably be determined. Alexander loved beauty of form (as his Venus conjunct the Sun would suggest). His likeness was rendered more than once (in a manner no doubt flattering) by a famous sculptor of the day. But, as well, he was given to the most robust physical exertions, and could be, it seemed, indefatigable. The first ray, from whichever sourcefrom the soul or astrologically mediatedclearly had a great influence upon his physical nature, though legend reports that he was lithe and supple rather than stiff as the first ray so often inclines the body to be.
It must be noted that the seventh ray, whether or not it was the ray of the physical body, was astrologically important in the life. The three signs/constellations that distribute the seventh ray are all tenanted. Aries is at the Ascendant and holds Pluto; Cancer holds the Sun and Venus; and Capricorn is at the MC and holds Uranus. It was Alexanders wish to set his conquests in good, well-harmonized form, as the Sun/Venus conjunction in the fourth house of establishment would indicate. Unfortunately or fortunately, the impatient Aries Ascendant, with all three of its rules either in conjunction, parallel or both to the MC/IC, made him far too restless to ever properly consolidate his gains. He was always moving on towards greater and greater achievements until, at length, only the weariness of his soldiers stopped him in India. One wonders whether Alexander was following a path to his metaphysical home in the East.
Certain Astrological Indications
That Alexander was one of the most successful military generals of recorded history may be attributable to the experience of many lives, but there are also horoscopic reinforcements the contributed to this success. Protective Jupiter in Virgo is closely sextile to the Sun/Venus conjunction, and thus, closely trine to the heliocentric position of the Earth. The Part of Fortune (the place where energy between the Sun and the Moon flows unobstructedly, and thus, contributes to happiness and success) is closely conjunct the MC (the career point), indicating elevation. The Part of Fortune is trine to Neptune (giving success through imagination and intuition), and also conjunct Uranus, giving unexpected successes ingeniously won. The Uranus/MC conjunction is reinforced by a parallel between the MC and Uranus (Uranus being the planet of greatest declination, and thus powerful). In so many ways, Alexander broke the mould. He was a unique leaderand dictator (another quality of willful Uranus).
Further contributing to his success was stabilizing Saturn in Taurus, trine to both Neptune and Jupiter in Virgo, and especially trine the midpoint of Jupiter and Neptune. Though extravagant in his expenditures (and inflated in many respects, as the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction would indicate), he was in other ways a financial conservative and was scrupulous in the collecting of revenues through the taxation of subjugated kingdoms and peoples (Moon in Scorpio, relating to the resources of others). Thus a balance was struck, and, indeed, he was sensible enough to ensure that he could afford his occasional extravagances.
Three planets can be seen as involved with the Part of FortuneUranus (conjunct) Neptune (trine) and Saturn (widely trine). We note that these are the three synthesizing planets. Alexander had at his disposal great and determining energies and he used them to advance his fortunes in the world.
We also note that the extremely close parallel of declination between mobile Mercury and restless Mars, account not only for an agile and enquiring mind, but (since they are, as well, closely parallel the IC) for a driving urge to be on the move. To this, an Aries Ascendant would naturally contribute, and we remember that Mars in Mercury are, respectively, the orthodox and esoteric rulers of Aries. The hierarchical ruler of Aries, Uranus (another planet of mobility), is also involved in this configuration being acceptably contraparallel to both Mars and Mercury, and also to the IC. These indications reinforce the importance in the life of relentless Aries.
It is interesting to realize that Alexander the Great was, as well as a great general, a great founder of citiesforemost among which was Alexandria. In fact a number of the cities he founded were based upon his nameAlexander, such was his growing megalomania. The powerful seventh ray contributed to this urge-to-civic-establishment. When we see the Sun in Cancer in its own house, the fourth, we understand that the Cancerian mantram, I build a lighted house, and therein dwell, operated powerfully in his life. He destroyed cities, razing them to the ground (Aries); he built and re-built cities (Cancer). One can see that he was not animated thoroughly by the will-to-destroy, but quite significantly by the will-to-build, the will-to-establish and, of course, the will-to-harmonize. We cannot be certain of the position of Vulcan in Alexanders chart. It might have been in Cancer or Leo. If in Cancer, his will-to-build, would have been strengthened. If in Leo, yet another first ray planet would have been placed in a first ray sign, thus strengthening his already formidable will and autocratic behavior.
Esoteric Indications
It could easily be said that Alexander was not a spiritual personbut would this be true? Certainly he understood spirituality more in terms of Shamballa than Hierarchy (though he could not have known about these planetary centers or called them by the names we now do). Alexanders vision of a Pan-Hellenic civilization, incorporating the best values of the East, was certainly grand in its conception. He was no unaccomplished individual. His feats of destruction were immense, but so were his feats of construction. He was in fact both the conqueror and would-be reorganizer of the then-known world.
Esoterically, Pluto is closely associated with first ray Aries, and makes of Alexander the consummate destroyer. But he was also the regeneratoranother quality of Pluto. He sought to benefit from the civilizations and cultures he conquered, and to see their best qualities widely distributed. Pluto at the Ascendant is countered by Uranus (the planet of magical reconstruction and reorganization) at the Capricorn MC. Uranus rebuilds what Pluto destroys. The spirituality of Alexander (if we can reasonably credit its existence) would have to be interpreted in terms synthetic of Shamballic power rather than the gentler impulses of the Spiritual Hierarchy; he seems more the representative of the obliterative monad than of the preserving soul. In any case, the monadic point (always opposite the Sun) is also found in first ray/seventh ray Capricorn, the same sign which houses Uranus, the hierarchical ruler of the Aries Ascendant.
Mercury the esoteric ruler of the Aries Ascendant, closely connected to Mars via parallel of declination and through Mars placement in Gemini, speaks for the spread of learning and culture that Alexander advocated. It is interesting that the principal city he foundedAlexandriabecame one of the greatest repositories of learning in the ancient world. So often world conquerors have come from the East in the attempt to overrun the WestGenghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Tamerlaine. In this case, the direction was reversed, with a later (the fourth) subrace of the Fifth Root Race (namely the Celtsamong whom the Greeks and Macedonians could be numbered) becoming the conquerors of an earlier subrace (the Persians, the Arabs and even of the residents of India, connected with the first subrace).
Some other Factors of Astrological Interest
There are number of hypothetical planets, to the reality of which more than a few competent astrologers attest. Should they be taken into consideration when assessing the character, psychological and spiritual potentials of an individual? Perhaps, in the interests of research, they should. After all, the Tibetan speaks of over 115 planets in our solar system, as well as many asteroids, all of which have their various influences and effects.
The Trans-Neptunian planet Apollon is part of the conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune (quite close to Neptune), and accounts for the spread of influence associated with Alexanders conquests and also with the spread of information which resulted from them. Hades (another Trans-Neptunian), bringer of death, disease, and destruction, is conjunct the Scorpio Moon adding to its lethal quality. Jason (one of the Centaur planets) is closely conjunct to the proposed Descendant. Jason is associated with the quest for the Golden Fleece (and with all quests for that matter). Alexander, through his conquests, was on a great quest. The question remains whether the objective was ever entirely clear to him. Other of the Centaurs are fairly close to the Ascendant and one of them is conjunct the Vertex. Alexanders relationship to his horse, Bucephalus, became the well-renowned subject of legend. If the Ascendant were in the twenty-first degree rather than in the nineteenth, then Sagittarius (the sign of both the horse and the Centaur) would be the zodiacal sub-ruler of the rising decanate.
It is interesting to see the undiscovered planets Isis and Osiris opposite each other with Isis closely opposed to Mars. This contributed to Alexanders attempt to put back together that which, through conquest, he had taken apart.
Midas, the unknown planet of great wealth, is in Taurus (the sign of resources) closely conjunct to Saturn, also in Taurus. Through his victories, Alexander accumulated a huge treasury, which, despite his extravagances, he watched over scrupulously, insisting on its proper management and putting to death any guardian of the treasury whom he found to be dishonest.
Some Fixed Star Indications
There are a number of fixed stars associated with Alexanders Scorpio Moon. Alpheratz is closely contraparallel, Mirfak is opposed, Scheat is closely contraparallel, and Toliman is conjunct. Alpheratz gives the urge for freedom and independence and a love of great speed; Mirfak is the young male warrior, proud of his strength and courage; Scheat is closely associated with free-thinkers who think fast and dare to think or do the impossible; Toliman in the foot of the Centaur, is linked with learning, education and spiritual growth. It may also represent the sacral center of the great Being. We can see how these particular stars, in relation to Alexanders warlike Scorpio Moon, amplify certain well-known traits of his Character.
Venus is closely conjunct to the royal star, Regulus, showing how he could use his charm and charisma to enhance his power to rule. While there are many asteroid and fixed star contacts with significant areas of Alexanders chart, and while these contacts would be most interesting to explore, to do so would be beyond our present scope, and, in any case, would more likely reveal exoteric detail, however interesting, rather than insight into the esoteric state of his soul.
Points of Interest Relative to Dynamic Factors in Alexanders Chart
When dealing with a speculative chart, it is always necessary to study closely the dynamic factors of the proposed chart to see if the chart is justifiable.
At the age of fourteen, Alexander became the pupil of the great Aristotle (an arrangement which almost proved fatal for the great sage). We note that in April of 342 BC, Alexanders progressed Mercury (planet of learning) enters the sign Leo, connected with the fifth ray and individualized mind. Mercury also represents the power to think for oneself, as Aristotle, intent on giving the young prince an excellent education, found out to his dismay. Significantly, there is a lunar eclipse on April 28th, involving the Scorpio Moon. More significantly, transiting Saturn retrogrades to a long month station at one degree of Scorpio, on the eclipse point and conjunct the Moon. The sage, Aristotle (representing Saturn to Aristotle) was arriving. Aristotle tried to tame Alexanders wild emotions (Saturn was on Alexanders Moon), but, in the last analysis, failed. As well in May of 342 BC there was a solar eclipse within three and a half degrees of Alexanders SaturnSaturn again. The emphasis was upon attempted discipline and instruction.
Let us examine some pertinent eclipses for the period. It is not possible to discover when, after Alexander was fourteen years old, Aristotle came to be his teacher, but the following eclipses involve the Moon, Saturn, and to a degree the Ascendant and the Descendant. The last eclipse, before his fifteenth birthday, is close enough to involve either of the proposed Ascendants (19º or 21º)
Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 28 0342 BC 13:59 02°Sc08′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr May 13 0342 BC 01:06 15°Ta57′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Oct 22 0342 BC 01:29 23°Ar47′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 17 0341 BC 04:50 21°Li58′ D
When Alexander was 18 years old, in 338 BC, he became a military commander. Transiting Jupiter was crossing both his Aries Ascendant and Pluto. Significantly, Jupiter is natally placed in the sign Virgo, which has come to indicate the military service. Uranus directed by SA (solar arc) comes opposite the natal Sun, giving freedom, independence and the free expression of willemphasizing the elevated Uranus natally on the MCthe indication of one who can do as he pleases. In the beginning of 337 BC, there is a solar eclipse opposed the Sun in the fourth house, and conjunct to solar arc directed Uranus, emphasizing the theme of authority and independence.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jan 20 0337 BC 07:44 25°Cp38′ D
At the age of 20, Alexander became King of Macedoniawe do not know the exact date. Saturn transiting in Capricorn was coming to the MC, conferring power, authority and, especially, great responsibility. Particularly important, and strongly indicative of the quite close accuracy of the chosen Aries Ascendant charts is the conjoining of the progressed Ascendant with both natal and progressed Saturn. This conjunction reinforces the testimony of transiting Saturn at the MC. We must remember that Alexander came to power at the death (the murder) of his father, Philip II of Macedonia. Saturn is traditionally the indicator for the father, and the double Saturn emphasis reinforces the connection between ascension to power and the condition of the father. At approximately the time of his birthday in 336 BC we see solar-arc directed Chiron crossing the Ascendant of the 11:00 am chart. (When the date is unknown, the solar return chart for that year is chosen, for its indicative quality.)
A most interesting eclipse shortly before Alexanders twentieth birthday indicates, from a fourth house perspective (the fourth house ruling ones native country) the coming to power. There is a close solar eclipse at the IC. Alexander was now established as the king of Macedonia.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 4 0336 BC 12:30 06°Cn30′ D
This eclipse falls exactly on his natal Mercury, which T-Jupiter is conjuncting. Mercury is the ruler, orthodoxly, of the third house of lower mind and the sixth house of practical service. Alexander had to have all his wits about him in this sudden situation. Mercury is also the esoteric ruler of the Aries Ascendant (and is natally opposite the planet of suddenness, Uranuswhich the eclipse opposed). He had to think fast due to the sudden death of his father and his ascension to the throne. Transiting Pluto is also reinforcing the MC or career point by Trine. Pluto is a planet of power, and by transit is also exactly trine the elevated Uranus.
Coinciding with his rise to power, the P-Moon moves into Leo, the sign of personal authority, and, incidentally, kingship. Alexander was assuming a new identity. It should be noticed that not only was the P-Moon changing sign, but the P-MC was either in the last degree of Capricorn (the summation of power) or, depending upon the chart used, in the very inception of Aquarius. Perhaps the last degree of Capricorn is more convincing, as it was after the death of his father that Alexander began to spread his military influence to the East in a manner reminiscent of the sign of spread and circulation, Aquarius. Alexanders benefit from the death of his father is indicated by transiting Pluto in trine to the MC, indicating the father. It is said that Alexander had nothing to do with his fathers death.
Indeed, he took revenge swiftly, ruthlessly eliminating all who were suspected of complicity in the assassination. When certain cities rebelled after the death of Phillip, Alexander put down the uprisings. When Illyria revolted on the false rumor that Alexander was dead, Alexander rushed south and sacked the city, sparing only the temples and the house of the poet, Pindar. One can see here the contrast between the Aries and Cancer aspects of his chart. Under Aries he leapt into drastic and ruthless action, sparing noneexcept his Cancerian urge to preserve that which was sacred to the gods and his innate sensitivity (under Cancer and the fourth ray) led him to spare Pindars home.
It should be noted that by November of 335 BC (Alexander was 21) there is a powerful stellium of planets in Leo in the fifth house of personal authority. The progressed Sun and Moon are conjunct producing a progressed lunation in the fifteenth degree of Leo (the Sabian Symbol for which is A PAGEANT WITH ITS SPECTACULAR FLOATS MOVES ALONG A STREET CROWDED WITH CHEERING PEOPLE, and the Keynote of which is The more or less sensational release of energies in a form dramatizing the unconscious aspirations of mans primitive and instinctual nature). This progressed lunation was to set the tone for Alexanders remaining years, and death came to him well before another lunation could be accomplished. P-Mercury was also an important part of this progressed Leo stellium, and was in the same degree only twelve minutes of arc from the progressed Sun and Moon. The stamp of a dramatic and imperious authority was received. At the time of the progressed lunation, Jupiter had already moved by transit into Leo as well. Alexanders authority was unopposed, and, essentially, he could do anything he wished.
By the time Alexander was 22, he was victor throughout all of Asia Minor. We note that T-Jupiter is conjunct his progressed Sun in Leo, indicating the continued growth of his Leonian personal power and authority.
In 332 after many conquests Alexander, in full command of Syria, entered Egypt and was acknowledged to be the son of Amon-Ra. This may have contributed to the growing conviction of his own divinity. At this time Uranus was square the MC and its own natal position, promoting a change in his own conception of his status. The P-Moon was close to Jupiter and P-Jupiter, contributing to the beginning of the psychological inflation which was to continue growing as his conquests mounted. By the end of 332 BC T-Jupiter was also coming to the conjunction of his natal Scorpio Moon, reinforcing the inflation. During this period, there were also solar eclipses involving the Ascendant and Descendant, and thus involving his perception of his own identity relative to others.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Oct 16 0332 BC 19:31 19°Li03′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 11 0331 BC 12:55 16°Ar07′ D
In the winter of 332 BC he founded the city of Alexandria, perhaps the greatest of all monuments to his name. We can see how the two eclipses above would contribute to this founding. In the earlier of the two charts, his progressed Sun is trine to his natal Ascendant, emphasizing identity, and the progressed Moon (signifying all that is established in form) is closely conjunct his natal Jupiterindicating fulfilled embodiment.
In the year 330 there was a conspiracy against Alexander. T-Saturn was transiting his twelfth house of Karma and T-Uranus was transiting the Ascendant. We also see SD Mars very close to his IC in the earlier of the two charts. The conspiracy was put down. Alexander, discovering that the son of one of his leading generals, Parmenion, was involved, had him put to death and the innocent Parmenion as well. Alexanders men intensely disliked this despotic harshness as well as Alexanders pretenses, as he assumed Persian dress (fourth ray personality and natal Venus conjunct the Sun). It is clear that Alexander was undergoing a change of identity, of self-perception (coincident with the transiting of Uranus on his Ascendant).
Between the year, 328 BC and 327, he attempted to impose the Persian court ceremonial, involving prostration (proskynesis), on the Greeks and Macedonians too; but to them this custom, habitual for Persians entering the king’s presence, implied an act of worship and was intolerable before a man. We note that there is a solar eclipse opposing the progressed MC, and thus on the progressed IC. A lunar eclipse involves his Sun. These eclipses involve identity points.
Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 20 0328 BC 16:51 22°Cp05′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Aug 4 0328 BC 03:02 06°Le02′ D
This practice was repudiated by those in his entourage. Macedonian laughter led to the discontinuation of this pretentious practice.
In 327 BC, Alexander fought his way into India, crossing the Hindu Kush. At the Hydaspes (the present-day Jhelum River) he met and defeated an army under Porus. He overran the Punjab, but there, in 326 BC, his men would go no farther. There was a mutiny and Alexanders wishes to proceed further came to an end.
We see Alexanders progressed Moon in Scorpio; Saturn is coming to its return position, and T-Pluto is beginning its conjunction of natal Saturn. During January of 0327 there is a solar eclipse on this progressed MC. During July of the year 327 BC there was a solar eclipse closely conjunct his natal Sun in Cancer, foreshadowing the growing challenge to his authority.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jan 28 0327 BC 20:51 04°Aq47′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 9 0327 BC 17:21 11°Cp18′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 24 0327 BC 19:59 25°Cn50′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jan 3 0326 BC 16:31 09°Cn08′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jun 15 0326 BC 01:13 17°Ge30′ D
Note how these eclipses involve Alexanders nodal axis, his MC, his Sun and his IC. By the Spring of 326 BC, he experienced his Saturn Return, followed by a square of transiting Saturn to his progressed Sun in Leo. There was also a solar eclipse on his natal Mars (positioned at 15 + Gemini), perhaps descriptive of the mutiny (reacting against the tendency toward overexpansion signaled by Mars in Gemini). His expansions into India were stopped. He had to turn back. Pluto had come to its conjunction of natal Saturn. This, along with the other adverse aspects, represented an insuperable challenge to his claim to unlimited authority. There was no way for him to proceed further.
Under the continuing influence of transiting Saturn square the progressed Sun and transiting Pluto, for long conjunct natal Saturn, Alexander suffered many reversals, and retrenchment was necessary. At one point he received a serious wound which weakened him considerably.
In spring 324 Alexander had returned to Susa, the administrative centre of the Persian Empire. There is a story that he passed much of the journey through Carmania in drunken revel, dressed as Dionysus. This story may be an exaggeration, but is not dissimilar to the strange theatrical behavior of Nero, who also had Pluto rising (probably with Sagittarius rising) and who was also possessed of or by a fourth ray personalitythough his soul ray may have been the sixth.
We note that during this period, Alexander was strongly under the influence of transiting Neptune trine his natal Suna planet already powerful in his chart through its square to natal Mars (orthodox ruler of the Ascendant) and its close parallel to the Ascendant.
This was a period in which Alexander, uniting the influences of his first ray soul and fourth ray personality, was attempting great racial fusions between the Macedonians and Greeks, on the one hand, and the Persians on the other. He and his best friend Hephaestion married Darius daughters, and 80 of his men took Persian wives. Of the 10,000 of his men who had previously taken Persian wives, all were given generous dowries. Thus, Alexander continued to promote racial and cultural fusion and synthesis.
This policy of racial fusion brought increasing friction to Alexander’s relations with his Macedonians, who had no sympathy for his changed concept of the empire. His determination to incorporate Persians on equal terms in the army and the administration of the provinces was, likewise, bitterly resented.
Neptune is the planet of idealism and of fusion. The strong influence of transiting Neptune during this period accounts for Alexanders idealistic, and rather unrealistic attempt to fuse the Persians and Macedonians together in harmony, in one great empire. He was thwarted in his attempt during 324 BC with two solar eclipses in Taurus and Scorpio, respectively, squaring the position of his progressed Sun in Leo. Further, transiting Pluto was conjunct his natal Saturn and transiting Saturn was conjunct natal Mars. Again he was thwarted, though transiting Jupiter, also conjunct natal Mars, allowed him to bring harmony out of the situation and pacify the rebellious Macedonians.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr May 23 0324 BC 07:31 26°Ta20′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Nov 16 0324 BC 19:25 20°Sc36′ D
In the autumn of 324 BC, with T-Pluto conjunct his natal Saturn and T-Uranus also conjunct natal Saturn, his best friend Hephaestion died. During this period there was also a solar eclipse squaring Alexanders progressed Sun. Transiting Saturn was in the third house of brothers and siblings, and was opposed the progressed Moon in Sagittarius (ruler of the fourth house of intimates and family members).
From the time of Hephaestions death, Alexander demanded to be seen as a god. His progressed Moon had moved into Capricorn and was approaching the tenth house cusp. His status in his own estimation had reached its apotheosis.
Suddenly, in Babylon, while busy with plans to improve the irrigation of the Euphrates and to settle the coast of the Persian Gulf, Alexander was taken ill after a prolonged banquet and drinking bout; ten days later, on June 13, 323, he died in his thirty-third year; he had reigned for twelve years and eight months. His body, diverted to Egypt by Ptolemy, the later king, was eventually placed in a golden coffin in Alexandria. Both in Egypt and elsewhere in the Greek cities he received divine honors.
The astrological indicators at the time of Alexanders death are compelling. The progressed Moon had come to within one minute of arc of natal Uranus. His death was sudden and unexpected (Uranus). It should be noted that the Moon is the orthodox ruler of the Cancerian Sun; Sun and Moon are intimately involved with health. The drinking bouts, in which he engaged with greater frequency as his life progressed, were an effect of the Mars/Neptune square. We also notice SD Neptune at the seventh house cusp. Uranus was also involved by transit, conjunct to progressed Saturn. We see, thus, Saturn, the progressed ruler of the MC (ones status) transited by Uranus and natal Uranus (already conjunct the MC) conjuncted by the progressed Moon (the Moon representing the constitution of the individual). We also note P-Mars conjunct Mercury, ruler of the 6house of health and, T-Mercury conjunct P-Mars and N-Mercury. The house of health was definitely implicated. Further, Jupiter (which often brings the release of death) had come to the fourth house, which is traditional astrology represents the end of life.
The eclipses for the period of death are unusually potent in their indications.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 12 0323 BC 23:26 17°Ar33′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 28 0323 BC 12:07 02°Sc27′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr May 12 0323 BC 10:40 15°Ta45′ D
Note that there is an almost exact solar eclipse (within one degree) of Alexanders Ascendant in Aries using the earlier chart. Such an eclipse is often fateful. Even if 20° + are rising, the eclipse would have to be considered effective. The lunar eclipse of April 28th occurs within two degrees of Alexanders natal Moon in Scorpio, and the solar eclipse of May 12th occurs within a few degrees of terminal Saturn, already implicated by a transit of Uranus. Clearly a forceful array of inharmonious aspects and eclipses were in effect when Alexander diedapparently of his own excesses (indiscriminately incorporative Cancer), probably compounded, according to some reports, by a fever. On the day of his death, the transiting Moon (moving rapidly, of course) was also in the sign Cancer, the sign of his Sun, and perhaps very close to transiting Jupiter, the planet of release. Transiting Neptune, another planet of release, was quite closely square the progressed Sun, and exactly inconjunct the transiting nodes, and its position was in the eighth housethe house of death. It is needless to say that Neptune is related to alcohol consumption, and that Mars (square Neptune in the natal chart) is related both to intemperance and to fevers.
Evaluation
It has been suggested that the disciples of Shamballa are difficult to understand; the prevailing bias of humanity rejects them for their apparently harsh and cruel ways. One must often evaluate their influence from a perspective somewhat distant from the immediacy of their lives, and in terms of larger processes of civilization and culture.
Could Alexander in any way be considered a disciple? Certainly he appeared egocentric, and at length, megalomaniacalnot traits usually found in one who serves the spiritual advancement of humanity. From a certain perspective, his life of obsessive conquest served no one but himself, contributing steadily to his insistent need for self-aggrandizement and self-glorification. Such a need is usually found only in one who is beset by deep personal insecurities (generated, it may reasonably be thought, by his Cancerian and Venusian qualities and the emotionally vigilant paranoia promoted by his Scorpio Moon)
On the other hand his military exploits, animated increasingly by a spirit of exploration, brought many benefits to the culture and civilization of the period. His own personal interest in scientific investigation (Uranus opposed to Mercuryboth powerful planets in the chart) brought many advances in the knowledge of geography and natural history. His will-to-explore was certainly promoted by his orthodoxly ruling planet, Mars, in the sign of enquiry, Gemini. Operating, even if unconsciously, under the will-to-synthesize (a first ray impulsion strengthened by Aries with its absolutism), he created one world, united both culturally and economically, from Gibraltar to the Punjab. Trade and social intercourse in these regions were greatly enhanced.
Alexanders life has to be evaluated in terms of Shamballic themes. He impacted greatly the civilization of his era paving the way for the world dominion of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity. Synthesis is destructive of a multitude of minor hegemonies.
Alexander was an irresistible cultural force. He was inspired by Hellenic ideals and the heroes and gods of GreeceHeracles, Achilles, Dionysisfigures which were often in his mind and with whom he, romantically (Mars square Neptune) compared himself. But in true fourth ray manner, he was surprising sensitive to the cultural values of his conquered enemies, and sought to befriend them, incorporating their values and traditions into his ever expanding world-empire, and to reconcile and harmonize these values with those of his own Macedonian/Greek culture.
If we understand the meaning of the sign Cancer in combination with the first ray, we will find Alexander to be psychologically incorporative. He sought not only to conquer, but to incorporate his conquests into his own glorified personhoodmerging subdued kingdoms, empires and their subjects into one body within his larger god-like self. When we think of the effect of Alexanders life, the advanced Cancerian mantram, The Whole is seen as One becomes significant. We find the many synthesized into the one, with one figure (himself) as the absolute monarch and guiding spirit of this forcefully achieved wholeness, synthesis, oneness. Of course, such an attitude reeks of extreme self-glorificationeven self-deificationbut one can hardly fail to recognize its foundational impulse as Shamballichowever distorted that impulse had become.
There is no question that, during the millions of years of human progress, war has been inevitable. Humanity, qualified by Scorpio and the fourth ray, is a warring kingdom on its way to an eventual peace and harmony. Alexanders Ascendant and Moon are in Aries and Scorpio respectivelytwo signs governed by Mars (the God of War). To conquer was but to fulfill his destiny. As humanity becomes more psychologically sophisticated, it will incline, increasingly, towards what might be called the internalization of war. Then, the spirit of conquest will no longer cause such great misery and hardship on the external plane of life, but the tremendously potent spirit of an Alexander or a Genghis Khan, will be turned towards the conquest of internal enemiesones own faults and viceseverything of a psychological nature which prevents true freedom of the spirit.
To contemplate the figure of Alexander (a man of iron will, relentless, yet flexible and adaptable, intelligent, imaginative, romantic, full of the sense of glory) is both inspiring and horrifying. From a distance one can marvel at his character, and yet be grateful that he lived in another time and not in the present age (apparently). While abhorring many of the outrageous specifics of his life, one can be filled with admiration for him as a psychological phenomenona testimony to what can be accomplished under the driving force of pure will. Will is neither good nor bad; its application will determine its value in any particular instance. Most of us need far more will than we seem to have, though we would (so we think) never apply the will as Alexander did. That great reservoirs of will do, indeed, exist, and are accessible by the human being, Alexanders short life has demonstrated. We can only imagine his achievement in the realm of soul and spirit, had this great and relentless will been turned inwardas no doubt it someday will be (or, over the course of the last almost 2400 years, has been). It is the nature of the spirit to know its essential greatness and to seek to recapture it. Perhaps, beneath all psychological compensations, this was the motive of this fundamentally spirit-driven man.
Quotations Attributed to Alexander the Great
I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians.
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
I send you a kaffis of mustard seed, that you may taste and acknowledge the bitterness of my victory.
I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.
Before heading for Asia, Alexander found himself in Corinth, where the great thinker Diogenes lived. Diogenes was sitting in a barrel, enjoying the sun paying no attention to Alexander. Alexander was very surprised at this lack of interest and asked if he could do something for Diogenes. Yes, could you move over a bit, you’re blocking my sun” answered Diogenes. “If I wasn’t Alexander I’d be Diogenes” replied Alexander. (in Plutarch’s “Life of Alexander”)
One of the most famous statements by Alexander: I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity. or Its better to burn out than fade away.
Persian women are painful to my eyes
I do not separate people, as do the narrow-minded, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the origin or race of citizens. I only distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me each good foreigner is a Greek and each bad Greek is worse than a barbarian.
I am paying my mother extraordinarily high rent for nine months of dwelling – when he was bombarded by complaints and accusations about Antipater and his associates in Pella. Perhaps, he should have listened more carefully after all….SOURCE HERE
Born July 22, 356 BC, Pella, Macedonia, between 10 and 12 PM. (Source, Marc Penfield, who cites Die Astrologie, June 1927). Time used, 11 PM. Suggested rectification 11:04:08 PM. The chart must be considered speculative, but well supported by evidence from transits, progressions and directions. Died, June 13, 323 BC, Babylon.
Possible consideration based on Sabian Symbols:
(Proposed Ascendant, Aries with Pluto in Aries conjunct the Ascendant; Sun conjunct Venus in Cancer with Mercury also in Cancer; Moon in Scorpio Mars in Gemini; Jupiter in Virgo; Saturn in Taurus; Uranus in Capricorn conjunct the proposed MC in Capricorn; Neptune in Virgo. The Chiron position, probably very significant, cannot be given due to the lack of a sufficiently extensive Chiron ephemeris).The name Alexander the Great is synonymous with war, conquest and towering ambition. The Tibetan infers that he may have been one of those rare expressionsi.e., a pure ray typealong with Julius Caesar, the Buddha, the Christ and Leonardo da Vinci (EP I 73). Alexander and Caesar were clearly on the first ray line, the Buddha and the Christ on the second, and Leonardo on the fourth. In the brief, thirty-three year life of Alexander, he forced his way into the imagination, not only of his own era, but of the following two millennia. He was surely an extraordinary characterdramatic, merciless, magnanimous, terrifying, awe-inspiring, full of contradiction, unforgettable. Humanity, full of the sense of its own weakness, persistently admires the archetype of the invincible conqueror. Alexander came as close to fulfilling this archetype as any personage in recorded history, perhaps with the exception of Genghis Khan.
In colloquial speech we speak of a very ambitious person as one who is out to conquer the world. In the case of Alexander, this seemed literally true. A Macedonian, his obsessive military exploits took him to the east of the Hellenic states, where at length he became the conqueror of the entire Persian Empire. Never content with the vast and ever-increasing scope of his conquests, he pressed on to subdue what are now Baluchistan, Southern Afghanistan and Iran, and finally large portions of northern India, where only a mutiny of his nearly exhausted armies prevented him from seeking still further lands and peoples to overcome. Alexander was a driven man, obsessed with the need to vanquish the then-known world, and even worlds beyond. An explorer as well as a conqueror, he sought to prove his strength against the peoples of lands undreamt. He did not know who they were, but he had faith in his invincibility and his power to bend them to his will. Whether or not he sought to create a world empire is unknown, but for him, interestingly (and to his credit) conquest was never enough. It had to be followed by harmonization and attempted fusion. One can judge that the drive to create synthesis was, for him, an irresistible urgeno matter what the cost, to himself, his armies or to those over whom he repeatedly triumphed.
The Rays of Alexander the Great
The Ray of the Soul: There can be little doubt that Alexander was a first ray soul. The Tibetan lists him in the company of those who, equally, must be considered first ray souls. The sorry history of humanity has been one of kings and potentates, rulers and warriors, presidents and dictatorsrising into power at the expense of their own or other nations. Conquerors come and goAkbar, Genghis Khan, the Pharaohs, Alexander the Great, Caesar, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Napoleon, Hitler and Mussolini. These have all upset the rhythm of their times and have come to power through aggression and slaughter. (EXH 183-184)Whether or not Alexander was a first ray monad, as well, must remain, for the moment, undecided. Although he was a figure famous to many (and infamous to some), it could not be said that he functioned in a manner definitely inspired by the high spiritual level of the monad, though the possibility remains. The Master of the Wisdom will know Alexanders monadic ray; we human beings, who know much less, can only infer. Judging from the quality of Alexanders life, as history has recorded it, the degree of his spirituality (if spirituality is defined in relatively conventional terms) can be severely questioned, whereas the degree of his megalomania cannot. Yet, in relation to Alexander, Julius Caesar, the Buddha, the Christ and Leonardo, the Tibetan offers the suggestion that he could be considered an example of a pure ray type. Given the choice between types of major, or primary, monadic rays (the first, second and third), it is hard to believe that Alexander could have been anything other than a first ray monad. As for the various subrays, and other qualifiers on the monadic, triadal and egoic levels, we are as yet in no position to judge with accuracy.
The astrological chart chosen for Alexander is speculative but has much to recommend it. It differs significantly (in date, time and even in year) from other speculative charts (as might be expected with so ancient a chart), though most accounts place his birth in July, in the year 356 BC. The time for the chart used is suggested (by Marc Penfield) as between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM in Pella, Macedonia, in the year 356 BC. An average time of 11:00 AM is selected. Selection in this manner could seem a very crude and arbitrary process, indeed, and one unlikely to yield any degree of accuracy, yet surprisingly, the hour of 11:00 AM may be very close to the correct time of birth. Coincidentally (if it is a coincidence) the symbol for the 19th degree of Aries rising is The Magic Carpet of Oriental Imagery. We have very little to do to imagine the idea of the Persian Carpet, as we remember Alexanders great and continuous movement to the East as the conqueror of the entire Persian Empire. If we move the birth time forward a mere four minutes and eight seconds, we would find the beginning of the twenty-first degree of Aries risinga degree entitled A PUGILIST ENTERS THE RING, The release and glorification of social aggressiveness, a keyword for which, in Dane Rudhyars opinion is OVERWHELMING POWER. Suffice it to say that such a symbol would be most apt for the life and character of Alexander, one of the most ruthless and invincible conquerors of recorded history.
Whichever of these two rising degree we choose to use, charts calculated for 11:00 AM, or 11:04:08+ (or some time in between, such as 11:01 AM or 11:01:30 AM) prove convincing in a number of ways which shall be demonstrated. The charts for 11:01 to 11:04 AM, however, suffer from the Ascendants association with Sabian Symbols that seem inappropriate. These Aries Rising charts also demonstrate the presence of a most powerful, astrologically-based first ray through which the ray of the soul (or monad) could manifest. Aries, the principal astrological sign/constellation, through which the first ray manifests most forcefully is, significantly, the Ascendant (with Leo and, consequently, the Sun as the decanate ruler in the 11:00 AM chart). If the 11:04:08+ chart is more correct, then, according to the Tibetan, Mars is the decanate ruler, which is certainly justifiable.
The first ray is dramatically accentuated by the presence of Pluto, planet of death and destruction, rising in Arieswhether in the first or twelfth house, it makes no difference, so close is Pluto the Ascendant. First ray Pluto (regardless of the exact degree of the proposed Aries Ascendant) is placed in the Leo decanate of Aries, reinforcing, thereby, the powerful presence of the first ray, for Leo is partially a first ray sign/constellation. There is an astrological triangle known as Aries-Pluto-Shamballa. Pluto is, indeed, intimately connected with first ray Aries and with Shamballa (the main source on our planet of the First Ray of Will or Power). Alexander (if he could be called a disciple) would reasonably, along with certain others, be called a disciple of Shamballa:
The men who inspired the initiating French revolution; the great conqueror, Napoleon; Bismarck, the creator of a nation; Mussolini, the regenerator of his people; Hitler who lifted a distressed people upon his shoulders; Lenin, the idealist, Stalin and Franco are all expressions of the Shamballa force and of certain little understood energies. (EXH 133)
That those who represent and express Shamballa do not always have a positive effect upon humanity, can be seen by considering the relative moral merits of the individuals mentioned above.
By considering the conjoining of Aries and Pluto at the Ascendant, we can see what a powerful conduit existed in Alexanders astrological chart for the Ray of the Destroyer. His relentlessness, ruthlessness, mercilessness (at times) and apparent invincibility are thereby explainedat least astrologically. He would allow nothing to stand in the way of his conquests. Those who resisted were annihilated. Those who accepted his domination were (paradoxically, in the eyes of many) treated with respect and an unusual degree of what can only be described as generosity and civility. Often, he seemed to treat them as the equals of his conquering Macedonians.
The first ray is also represented by first ray Uranus (i.e., monadically first ray) in first ray Capricorn at the MC (a position on the astrological angles or cross which is closely associated with the first ray). Alexander was powerfully Uranian in his nature (unpredictable, reorganizational, establishmental). He was a potent restructuring force in the Hellenic World and the Asiatic empires he conquered. Aries, the sign of the new, is also a conduit for the seventh ray of manifestationof which Uranus is also a transmitter. It is said by one of his biographers that Alexander inaugurated (Aries) about 70 new cities. Aries, it will be remembered, is hierarchically ruled by the planet, Uranusespecially in the case of initiates. It is difficult to judge Alexander as a true initiate, so it will be wise to pause before deciding that Uranus can be considered effective as a hierarchical ruler of the proposed Ascendant in his chart. As an elevated planet conjunct the MC, Uranus was, however, definitely effective. Placed in the sign Capricorn (a major sign of manifestation and anchoring) we can see why he was able to inaugurate and establish these cities, and, in general, to institute his inspirations. Not only was Uranus conjunct the MC but rather closely parallel to it as well (parallels of declination).
At a certain point in his career Alexander became convinced that he was a god, which, if true, would indicate a spiritual status far above and beyond that of an initiate. As his life continued, he insisted that others treat him as divine, complete with all the obsequies due a deity. In truth, he was no more a god than any other human being (who, as a monad, is, indeed, a god), and the probability is, that he was no high initiate, but rather an extremely powerful, versatile, talented personality who appropriated the first ray of his soul in manifestly destructive ways. Whether he was an initiate of the threshold (i.e., an initiate of the first or second degree) can be debated. There can be little doubt that he was an individual of great courage and intelligence and, on occasion, of heart, but he loomed too large in his own importance to be called a true initiate. Further, through repeated and prolonged drinking-bouts (in one of which, enraged by drink, he murdered a military comrade he otherwise valued highly), he demonstrated that he was far indeed from achieving emotional controla characteristic of those who have achieved the second degree.
The Ray of the Personality: When considering a hypothesis for the personality ray, the fourth ray of Harmony through Conflict, which is, in certain respects, very much the ray of the warrior, seems a strong possibility. Alexander was not a consistent character by any means. There are a number of well-documented sudden and dramatic reversals of attitude in his life. He was often remorseful over his excesses and, for a great conqueror, apologetic and full of regretful grief. It seems he had all the adolescence of character typical of an inflamed (Aries) fourth ray type, and was the victim, as well, of the self-celebratory narcissism typical of those upon that ray (and influenced strongly by that sign).
It was always difficult to predict what Alexander would do, a fact which may have contributed much to his continue successes over enemies. He was quick to anger, but suddenly generous and forgiving as well. He would take tremendous risks (both to himself and his men), but was, on other occasions, extremely cautious or wisely flexible in situations which demanded it. As a general he has a certain spontaneous adaptability and improvisatory quality typical of the fourth ray. He was given to fourth ray excesses of characterat times utterly unrestrained, undisciplinedDionysian in the extreme; at other times, he was the strictest of disciplinarians. Such inconsistencies are typical of the fourth ray.
His treatment of (cooperative) conquered enemies was typically fourth ray in nature, for he sought harmony with all compliant, subjugated peoples by restoring to them many, if not all, of their former privileges, which, as their conqueror, he could easily have retained for himself and his Macedonian armies. Once he was well-established as the conqueror of Persia, he treated Persian culture as the equal of Macedonian culture and traditions, and many subservient Persian rulers as the equals of his Macedonian and Greek comrades in arms. In a way, he adored Persian culture (adopting its customs and trappings) and was judged (by his disgruntled Macedonian soldiers) to elevate it far beyond its true worth. He sought a broad-scale harmony between Persians, Macedonians and Greeks, and encouraged his men to take Macedonian brides; he even paid them to do so. He, himself, took a Persian bridea daughter of the Persian emperor, Darius. He deliberately became the harmonizer of his conquered lands and peoples, envisioning himself grandly as a supremely tolerant, benevolent ruler. His method was so oftenfirst severe conflict and conquest, followed by the promotion of a pervasive harmony entirely in contrast with the furious conflict he had precipitated. This is behavior typical of the interplay between the first and fourth rays, especially when aggravated by the fiery impulses of Aries and modified by the personal sensitivity of Cancer.
Two of the three signs/constellations which serve as conduits for the fourth ray, are tenanted in Alexanders chartSaturn, the ruler of the MC, placed in fourth ray Taurus, and the fourth ray Moon placed in the very first degree of fourth ray Scorpio. This Moon position is powerful indeed, and a good argument for speculatively delaying the time of Alexanders birth until approximately 11:00 AM, when the Moon entered destructive, war-like Scorpio. Fourth ray Mercury, the esoteric ruler of the Aries Ascendant is placed in the fourth sign, Cancer, and is widely trine to the fourth ray Scorpio Moon. If 21º of Aries is rising (the apt symbol for which is, A Pugilist Enters the Ring), then Sagittarius, which, with Taurus and Scorpio, is a distributor of the fourth ray, is the sub-ruler of the decanate of the Rising Sign.
Alexanders Sun Sign (like that of Julius Caesars) is, both tropically and sidereally considered, Cancernot a sign which one would normally associate with a conqueror, for this sign often produces in men a rather effeminate psychology. Both Alexander and Caesar are reputed to have had a number of homosexual liaisons. Caesar, for instance, notorious for his sexual excesses, was known as every womans husband and every mans wife, and Alexander, though he married a number of women, had a male best friend, Hephaestion, who was almost certainly, so some affirm, his lover. Sexual ambiguity is often associated with the artistic fourth ray. A study of history will reveal that Alexander was closely tied to his mother, for whose sake he became temporarily estranged from and hostile to his father, Philip II of Macedonia, when Philip took yet another wife. The attitude of obsessive conquest so dramatically evidenced by Alexander can be interpreted as a huge over-compensation for the passivity and effeminacy of his Cancerian nature. The one most driven to conquer is, from the psychological perspective, often the one most fearful of being conqueredin this case by the mother force. It is interesting that in one of the most convincing astrological charts for Genghis Khan, there is to be found a fourth house Cancer Moon and, as history tells the story, the great Khan both feared and respected his mother, who was the only person who seemed to have power over him. Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor, is said to have been ruled by his wife.
That Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac is significant. Its orthodox ruler is the fourth ray Moon, strengthened in its fourth ray nature by being placed in fourth ray Scorpio. Since Ascending Aries is esoterically ruled by fourth ray Mercury, which is trine to the fourth ray Scorpio Moon, the fourth ray is potently accentedespecially in its conflict side (because two Martian signs are strongly involved). The orthodox ruler of the Ascendant is Mars, placed in Gemini, the sign over which fourth ray Mercury orthodoxly rules. Mars in Gemini is also significant for a battle between the pairs of opposites, and would contribute to the fact that Alexanders facile, intelligent mind was a great instrument of war. This position of Mars would promote a conflict within his own nature which aggravated his already warlike tendencies.
The harmony side of the fourth ray is accentuated by the presence of affiliative, unitive Juno rising (albeit in aggressive Aries, making it the initiator of marriages). Further, the Vertex (the point of fate) is placed in compromising Libra. Most significantly perhaps, the orthodox ruler of fourth ray Taurus and of compromising Libra is Venus which is found in the fourth sign, Cancer, conjuncted to the Cancerian Sun. Venus would add to Alexanders effeminacy as well as to his charm and popularity. It would contribute to making him the best of friends. Other factorsPluto rising in Aries and the Scorpio Moon would make him the worst of enemies.
The Ray of the Lower Mind: From the records that exist, it is difficult to assess the ray of Alexanders lower mind. Certainly he could be decisive and authoritative, thus demonstrating the first ray. He could also be colorful and ironicqualities characteristic of the fourth ray. What is perhaps less known is that he had an active scientific and explorational interest, and was fascinated with the acquisition of new knowledge. Mars, as orthodox ruler of the Aries Ascendant, is in curious Gemini and quite close to the Placidus cusp of the third house of lower mind. As well, Mars and Mercury are only one minute of arc away from an exact parallel. It would be difficult (and perhaps lethal) to argue with Alexander. The Mars/Mercury parallel can be read in much the same way as Mars in Gemini and makes for an incisive, aggressively curious, mobile mind. Further, Mercury, the orthodox dispositor of Mars is found in the third house of the chart, in Cancer, a sign that emphasizes the third ray of mind. This Mercury is opposed within one degree to the elevated, scientific Uranus, giving the mind a definitely experimental and exploratory tinge. The Mercury/Uranus opposition, involving the third and ninth houses, emphasizes the possibility of a fifth ray component to the mind. The fifth ray would not necessarily be good in the field of battle because it is so deliberate, weighing up the facts, but it seems characteristic of Alexanders curiosity about the peoples and places he conquered. Interestingly, this was true of Napoleon, who, in the speculations of some, was the reincarnation of Alexander.
The Ray of the Astral Body: There seems little doubt that Alexander was possessed of (or by) a sixth ray astral body. He was the exponent of a Pan-Hellenic idealism and sought to bring Greek Culture to the then-known world. The great irony (characteristic of one for whom the fourth ray was so strong) was that he became the devotee of oriental culture, and in one of his characteristic reversals, sought then to impose Persian/Oriental culture not only on himself, personally, but on his Macedonian soldiers. In true fourth ray fashion, it seems he could not tolerate being only one thing or another, but had to be both.
A strong conduit of the sixth ray of idealism is the square, within one degree, between sixth ray Mars and sixth ray Neptune (placed in Virgo, a sign which partially distributes the sixth ray). Alexanders devotions (as with almost every characteristic of his life) were excessive. When his best friend Hephaestion, died in 324 BC, just a year before Alexanders own death, he engaged in the most extravagant mourning (born both of his devotion and flamboyant character), building a funeral pyre in Babylon which cost 10,000 talents (a huge sum and more than a kings ransom). It should be noted, in terms of parallels of declination, that sixth ray Neptune is parallel within less than a degree to the Ascendant. These Neptune positions establish Alexander as a visionaryand, as one who could be judged as an alcoholic.
Further indications of the presence of the sixth ray are as follows: Jupiter is placed in sixth ray Virgo, giving further weight to the power of the sixth ray. Two asteroids, devoted Vesta and nurturing Ceres, are placed in sixth ray Pisces, and in the twelfth house which is resonant to both Pisces and the sixth ray. Ceres, exactly trine to the Sun and closely trine to Venus, would add to the maternal, care-taking quality. When the family of the Persian Emperor Darius, was captured, they were treated with unaccustomed chivalry and entertained in an almost luxurious captivity, at great expense to Alexander. Clearly, there were softer, more generous and noble aspects to his character. The opposite was also true, as a number of seemingly close friends and companions discovered, The impulsive, subconscious Moon is placed in Scorpio, the sign of death, and in square to the nodal axis (the nodes indicating the place where people both come into the life and depart from it). Alexander, for all his flamboyance and apparent magnanimity, was inherently suspicious (Moon in Scorpio), and to lose his trust was to lose ones life.
The Ray of the Physical Body: This ray cannot reliably be determined. Alexander loved beauty of form (as his Venus conjunct the Sun would suggest). His likeness was rendered more than once (in a manner no doubt flattering) by a famous sculptor of the day. But, as well, he was given to the most robust physical exertions, and could be, it seemed, indefatigable. The first ray, from whichever sourcefrom the soul or astrologically mediatedclearly had a great influence upon his physical nature, though legend reports that he was lithe and supple rather than stiff as the first ray so often inclines the body to be.
It must be noted that the seventh ray, whether or not it was the ray of the physical body, was astrologically important in the life. The three signs/constellations that distribute the seventh ray are all tenanted. Aries is at the Ascendant and holds Pluto; Cancer holds the Sun and Venus; and Capricorn is at the MC and holds Uranus. It was Alexanders wish to set his conquests in good, well-harmonized form, as the Sun/Venus conjunction in the fourth house of establishment would indicate. Unfortunately or fortunately, the impatient Aries Ascendant, with all three of its rules either in conjunction, parallel or both to the MC/IC, made him far too restless to ever properly consolidate his gains. He was always moving on towards greater and greater achievements until, at length, only the weariness of his soldiers stopped him in India. One wonders whether Alexander was following a path to his metaphysical home in the East.
Certain Astrological Indications
That Alexander was one of the most successful military generals of recorded history may be attributable to the experience of many lives, but there are also horoscopic reinforcements the contributed to this success. Protective Jupiter in Virgo is closely sextile to the Sun/Venus conjunction, and thus, closely trine to the heliocentric position of the Earth. The Part of Fortune (the place where energy between the Sun and the Moon flows unobstructedly, and thus, contributes to happiness and success) is closely conjunct the MC (the career point), indicating elevation. The Part of Fortune is trine to Neptune (giving success through imagination and intuition), and also conjunct Uranus, giving unexpected successes ingeniously won. The Uranus/MC conjunction is reinforced by a parallel between the MC and Uranus (Uranus being the planet of greatest declination, and thus powerful). In so many ways, Alexander broke the mould. He was a unique leaderand dictator (another quality of willful Uranus).
Further contributing to his success was stabilizing Saturn in Taurus, trine to both Neptune and Jupiter in Virgo, and especially trine the midpoint of Jupiter and Neptune. Though extravagant in his expenditures (and inflated in many respects, as the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction would indicate), he was in other ways a financial conservative and was scrupulous in the collecting of revenues through the taxation of subjugated kingdoms and peoples (Moon in Scorpio, relating to the resources of others). Thus a balance was struck, and, indeed, he was sensible enough to ensure that he could afford his occasional extravagances.
Three planets can be seen as involved with the Part of FortuneUranus (conjunct) Neptune (trine) and Saturn (widely trine). We note that these are the three synthesizing planets. Alexander had at his disposal great and determining energies and he used them to advance his fortunes in the world.
We also note that the extremely close parallel of declination between mobile Mercury and restless Mars, account not only for an agile and enquiring mind, but (since they are, as well, closely parallel the IC) for a driving urge to be on the move. To this, an Aries Ascendant would naturally contribute, and we remember that Mars in Mercury are, respectively, the orthodox and esoteric rulers of Aries. The hierarchical ruler of Aries, Uranus (another planet of mobility), is also involved in this configuration being acceptably contraparallel to both Mars and Mercury, and also to the IC. These indications reinforce the importance in the life of relentless Aries.
It is interesting to realize that Alexander the Great was, as well as a great general, a great founder of citiesforemost among which was Alexandria. In fact a number of the cities he founded were based upon his nameAlexander, such was his growing megalomania. The powerful seventh ray contributed to this urge-to-civic-establishment. When we see the Sun in Cancer in its own house, the fourth, we understand that the Cancerian mantram, I build a lighted house, and therein dwell, operated powerfully in his life. He destroyed cities, razing them to the ground (Aries); he built and re-built cities (Cancer). One can see that he was not animated thoroughly by the will-to-destroy, but quite significantly by the will-to-build, the will-to-establish and, of course, the will-to-harmonize. We cannot be certain of the position of Vulcan in Alexanders chart. It might have been in Cancer or Leo. If in Cancer, his will-to-build, would have been strengthened. If in Leo, yet another first ray planet would have been placed in a first ray sign, thus strengthening his already formidable will and autocratic behavior.
Esoteric Indications
It could easily be said that Alexander was not a spiritual personbut would this be true? Certainly he understood spirituality more in terms of Shamballa than Hierarchy (though he could not have known about these planetary centers or called them by the names we now do). Alexanders vision of a Pan-Hellenic civilization, incorporating the best values of the East, was certainly grand in its conception. He was no unaccomplished individual. His feats of destruction were immense, but so were his feats of construction. He was in fact both the conqueror and would-be reorganizer of the then-known world.
Esoterically, Pluto is closely associated with first ray Aries, and makes of Alexander the consummate destroyer. But he was also the regeneratoranother quality of Pluto. He sought to benefit from the civilizations and cultures he conquered, and to see their best qualities widely distributed. Pluto at the Ascendant is countered by Uranus (the planet of magical reconstruction and reorganization) at the Capricorn MC. Uranus rebuilds what Pluto destroys. The spirituality of Alexander (if we can reasonably credit its existence) would have to be interpreted in terms synthetic of Shamballic power rather than the gentler impulses of the Spiritual Hierarchy; he seems more the representative of the obliterative monad than of the preserving soul. In any case, the monadic point (always opposite the Sun) is also found in first ray/seventh ray Capricorn, the same sign which houses Uranus, the hierarchical ruler of the Aries Ascendant.
Mercury the esoteric ruler of the Aries Ascendant, closely connected to Mars via parallel of declination and through Mars placement in Gemini, speaks for the spread of learning and culture that Alexander advocated. It is interesting that the principal city he foundedAlexandriabecame one of the greatest repositories of learning in the ancient world. So often world conquerors have come from the East in the attempt to overrun the WestGenghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Tamerlaine. In this case, the direction was reversed, with a later (the fourth) subrace of the Fifth Root Race (namely the Celtsamong whom the Greeks and Macedonians could be numbered) becoming the conquerors of an earlier subrace (the Persians, the Arabs and even of the residents of India, connected with the first subrace).
Some other Factors of Astrological Interest
There are number of hypothetical planets, to the reality of which more than a few competent astrologers attest. Should they be taken into consideration when assessing the character, psychological and spiritual potentials of an individual? Perhaps, in the interests of research, they should. After all, the Tibetan speaks of over 115 planets in our solar system, as well as many asteroids, all of which have their various influences and effects.
The Trans-Neptunian planet Apollon is part of the conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune (quite close to Neptune), and accounts for the spread of influence associated with Alexanders conquests and also with the spread of information which resulted from them. Hades (another Trans-Neptunian), bringer of death, disease, and destruction, is conjunct the Scorpio Moon adding to its lethal quality. Jason (one of the Centaur planets) is closely conjunct to the proposed Descendant. Jason is associated with the quest for the Golden Fleece (and with all quests for that matter). Alexander, through his conquests, was on a great quest. The question remains whether the objective was ever entirely clear to him. Other of the Centaurs are fairly close to the Ascendant and one of them is conjunct the Vertex. Alexanders relationship to his horse, Bucephalus, became the well-renowned subject of legend. If the Ascendant were in the twenty-first degree rather than in the nineteenth, then Sagittarius (the sign of both the horse and the Centaur) would be the zodiacal sub-ruler of the rising decanate.
It is interesting to see the undiscovered planets Isis and Osiris opposite each other with Isis closely opposed to Mars. This contributed to Alexanders attempt to put back together that which, through conquest, he had taken apart.
Midas, the unknown planet of great wealth, is in Taurus (the sign of resources) closely conjunct to Saturn, also in Taurus. Through his victories, Alexander accumulated a huge treasury, which, despite his extravagances, he watched over scrupulously, insisting on its proper management and putting to death any guardian of the treasury whom he found to be dishonest.
Some Fixed Star Indications
There are a number of fixed stars associated with Alexanders Scorpio Moon. Alpheratz is closely contraparallel, Mirfak is opposed, Scheat is closely contraparallel, and Toliman is conjunct. Alpheratz gives the urge for freedom and independence and a love of great speed; Mirfak is the young male warrior, proud of his strength and courage; Scheat is closely associated with free-thinkers who think fast and dare to think or do the impossible; Toliman in the foot of the Centaur, is linked with learning, education and spiritual growth. It may also represent the sacral center of the great Being. We can see how these particular stars, in relation to Alexanders warlike Scorpio Moon, amplify certain well-known traits of his Character.
Venus is closely conjunct to the royal star, Regulus, showing how he could use his charm and charisma to enhance his power to rule. While there are many asteroid and fixed star contacts with significant areas of Alexanders chart, and while these contacts would be most interesting to explore, to do so would be beyond our present scope, and, in any case, would more likely reveal exoteric detail, however interesting, rather than insight into the esoteric state of his soul.
Points of Interest Relative to Dynamic Factors in Alexanders Chart
When dealing with a speculative chart, it is always necessary to study closely the dynamic factors of the proposed chart to see if the chart is justifiable.
At the age of fourteen, Alexander became the pupil of the great Aristotle (an arrangement which almost proved fatal for the great sage). We note that in April of 342 BC, Alexanders progressed Mercury (planet of learning) enters the sign Leo, connected with the fifth ray and individualized mind. Mercury also represents the power to think for oneself, as Aristotle, intent on giving the young prince an excellent education, found out to his dismay. Significantly, there is a lunar eclipse on April 28th, involving the Scorpio Moon. More significantly, transiting Saturn retrogrades to a long month station at one degree of Scorpio, on the eclipse point and conjunct the Moon. The sage, Aristotle (representing Saturn to Aristotle) was arriving. Aristotle tried to tame Alexanders wild emotions (Saturn was on Alexanders Moon), but, in the last analysis, failed. As well in May of 342 BC there was a solar eclipse within three and a half degrees of Alexanders SaturnSaturn again. The emphasis was upon attempted discipline and instruction.
Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 28 0342 BC 13:59 02°Sc08′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr May 13 0342 BC 01:06 15°Ta57′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Oct 22 0342 BC 01:29 23°Ar47′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 17 0341 BC 04:50 21°Li58′ D
When Alexander was 18 years old, in 338 BC, he became a military commander. Transiting Jupiter was crossing both his Aries Ascendant and Pluto. Significantly, Jupiter is natally placed in the sign Virgo, which has come to indicate the military service. Uranus directed by SA (solar arc) comes opposite the natal Sun, giving freedom, independence and the free expression of willemphasizing the elevated Uranus natally on the MCthe indication of one who can do as he pleases. In the beginning of 337 BC, there is a solar eclipse opposed the Sun in the fourth house, and conjunct to solar arc directed Uranus, emphasizing the theme of authority and independence.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jan 20 0337 BC 07:44 25°Cp38′ D
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 4 0336 BC 12:30 06°Cn30′ D
This eclipse falls exactly on his natal Mercury, which T-Jupiter is conjuncting. Mercury is the ruler, orthodoxly, of the third house of lower mind and the sixth house of practical service. Alexander had to have all his wits about him in this sudden situation. Mercury is also the esoteric ruler of the Aries Ascendant (and is natally opposite the planet of suddenness, Uranuswhich the eclipse opposed). He had to think fast due to the sudden death of his father and his ascension to the throne. Transiting Pluto is also reinforcing the MC or career point by Trine. Pluto is a planet of power, and by transit is also exactly trine the elevated Uranus.
Coinciding with his rise to power, the P-Moon moves into Leo, the sign of personal authority, and, incidentally, kingship. Alexander was assuming a new identity. It should be noticed that not only was the P-Moon changing sign, but the P-MC was either in the last degree of Capricorn (the summation of power) or, depending upon the chart used, in the very inception of Aquarius. Perhaps the last degree of Capricorn is more convincing, as it was after the death of his father that Alexander began to spread his military influence to the East in a manner reminiscent of the sign of spread and circulation, Aquarius. Alexanders benefit from the death of his father is indicated by transiting Pluto in trine to the MC, indicating the father. It is said that Alexander had nothing to do with his fathers death.
Indeed, he took revenge swiftly, ruthlessly eliminating all who were suspected of complicity in the assassination. When certain cities rebelled after the death of Phillip, Alexander put down the uprisings. When Illyria revolted on the false rumor that Alexander was dead, Alexander rushed south and sacked the city, sparing only the temples and the house of the poet, Pindar. One can see here the contrast between the Aries and Cancer aspects of his chart. Under Aries he leapt into drastic and ruthless action, sparing noneexcept his Cancerian urge to preserve that which was sacred to the gods and his innate sensitivity (under Cancer and the fourth ray) led him to spare Pindars home.
It should be noted that by November of 335 BC (Alexander was 21) there is a powerful stellium of planets in Leo in the fifth house of personal authority. The progressed Sun and Moon are conjunct producing a progressed lunation in the fifteenth degree of Leo (the Sabian Symbol for which is A PAGEANT WITH ITS SPECTACULAR FLOATS MOVES ALONG A STREET CROWDED WITH CHEERING PEOPLE, and the Keynote of which is The more or less sensational release of energies in a form dramatizing the unconscious aspirations of mans primitive and instinctual nature). This progressed lunation was to set the tone for Alexanders remaining years, and death came to him well before another lunation could be accomplished. P-Mercury was also an important part of this progressed Leo stellium, and was in the same degree only twelve minutes of arc from the progressed Sun and Moon. The stamp of a dramatic and imperious authority was received. At the time of the progressed lunation, Jupiter had already moved by transit into Leo as well. Alexanders authority was unopposed, and, essentially, he could do anything he wished.
In 332 after many conquests Alexander, in full command of Syria, entered Egypt and was acknowledged to be the son of Amon-Ra. This may have contributed to the growing conviction of his own divinity. At this time Uranus was square the MC and its own natal position, promoting a change in his own conception of his status. The P-Moon was close to Jupiter and P-Jupiter, contributing to the beginning of the psychological inflation which was to continue growing as his conquests mounted. By the end of 332 BC T-Jupiter was also coming to the conjunction of his natal Scorpio Moon, reinforcing the inflation. During this period, there were also solar eclipses involving the Ascendant and Descendant, and thus involving his perception of his own identity relative to others.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Oct 16 0332 BC 19:31 19°Li03′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 11 0331 BC 12:55 16°Ar07′ D
In the year 330 there was a conspiracy against Alexander. T-Saturn was transiting his twelfth house of Karma and T-Uranus was transiting the Ascendant. We also see SD Mars very close to his IC in the earlier of the two charts. The conspiracy was put down. Alexander, discovering that the son of one of his leading generals, Parmenion, was involved, had him put to death and the innocent Parmenion as well. Alexanders men intensely disliked this despotic harshness as well as Alexanders pretenses, as he assumed Persian dress (fourth ray personality and natal Venus conjunct the Sun). It is clear that Alexander was undergoing a change of identity, of self-perception (coincident with the transiting of Uranus on his Ascendant).
Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 20 0328 BC 16:51 22°Cp05′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Aug 4 0328 BC 03:02 06°Le02′ D
In 327 BC, Alexander fought his way into India, crossing the Hindu Kush. At the Hydaspes (the present-day Jhelum River) he met and defeated an army under Porus. He overran the Punjab, but there, in 326 BC, his men would go no farther. There was a mutiny and Alexanders wishes to proceed further came to an end.
We see Alexanders progressed Moon in Scorpio; Saturn is coming to its return position, and T-Pluto is beginning its conjunction of natal Saturn. During January of 0327 there is a solar eclipse on this progressed MC. During July of the year 327 BC there was a solar eclipse closely conjunct his natal Sun in Cancer, foreshadowing the growing challenge to his authority.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jan 28 0327 BC 20:51 04°Aq47′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 9 0327 BC 17:21 11°Cp18′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jul 24 0327 BC 19:59 25°Cn50′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jan 3 0326 BC 16:31 09°Cn08′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Jun 15 0326 BC 01:13 17°Ge30′ D
Note how these eclipses involve Alexanders nodal axis, his MC, his Sun and his IC. By the Spring of 326 BC, he experienced his Saturn Return, followed by a square of transiting Saturn to his progressed Sun in Leo. There was also a solar eclipse on his natal Mars (positioned at 15 + Gemini), perhaps descriptive of the mutiny (reacting against the tendency toward overexpansion signaled by Mars in Gemini). His expansions into India were stopped. He had to turn back. Pluto had come to its conjunction of natal Saturn. This, along with the other adverse aspects, represented an insuperable challenge to his claim to unlimited authority. There was no way for him to proceed further.
In spring 324 Alexander had returned to Susa, the administrative centre of the Persian Empire. There is a story that he passed much of the journey through Carmania in drunken revel, dressed as Dionysus. This story may be an exaggeration, but is not dissimilar to the strange theatrical behavior of Nero, who also had Pluto rising (probably with Sagittarius rising) and who was also possessed of or by a fourth ray personalitythough his soul ray may have been the sixth.
We note that during this period, Alexander was strongly under the influence of transiting Neptune trine his natal Suna planet already powerful in his chart through its square to natal Mars (orthodox ruler of the Ascendant) and its close parallel to the Ascendant.
This was a period in which Alexander, uniting the influences of his first ray soul and fourth ray personality, was attempting great racial fusions between the Macedonians and Greeks, on the one hand, and the Persians on the other. He and his best friend Hephaestion married Darius daughters, and 80 of his men took Persian wives. Of the 10,000 of his men who had previously taken Persian wives, all were given generous dowries. Thus, Alexander continued to promote racial and cultural fusion and synthesis.
This policy of racial fusion brought increasing friction to Alexander’s relations with his Macedonians, who had no sympathy for his changed concept of the empire. His determination to incorporate Persians on equal terms in the army and the administration of the provinces was, likewise, bitterly resented.
Neptune is the planet of idealism and of fusion. The strong influence of transiting Neptune during this period accounts for Alexanders idealistic, and rather unrealistic attempt to fuse the Persians and Macedonians together in harmony, in one great empire. He was thwarted in his attempt during 324 BC with two solar eclipses in Taurus and Scorpio, respectively, squaring the position of his progressed Sun in Leo. Further, transiting Pluto was conjunct his natal Saturn and transiting Saturn was conjunct natal Mars. Again he was thwarted, though transiting Jupiter, also conjunct natal Mars, allowed him to bring harmony out of the situation and pacify the rebellious Macedonians.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr May 23 0324 BC 07:31 26°Ta20′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Nov 16 0324 BC 19:25 20°Sc36′ D
In the autumn of 324 BC, with T-Pluto conjunct his natal Saturn and T-Uranus also conjunct natal Saturn, his best friend Hephaestion died. During this period there was also a solar eclipse squaring Alexanders progressed Sun. Transiting Saturn was in the third house of brothers and siblings, and was opposed the progressed Moon in Sagittarius (ruler of the fourth house of intimates and family members).
The eclipses for the period of death are unusually potent in their indications.
Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 12 0323 BC 23:26 17°Ar33′ D Mon LEcl (X) Tr-Tr Apr 28 0323 BC 12:07 02°Sc27′ D Sun SEcl (X) Tr-Tr May 12 0323 BC 10:40 15°Ta45′ D
Note that there is an almost exact solar eclipse (within one degree) of Alexanders Ascendant in Aries using the earlier chart. Such an eclipse is often fateful. Even if 20° + are rising, the eclipse would have to be considered effective. The lunar eclipse of April 28th occurs within two degrees of Alexanders natal Moon in Scorpio, and the solar eclipse of May 12th occurs within a few degrees of terminal Saturn, already implicated by a transit of Uranus. Clearly a forceful array of inharmonious aspects and eclipses were in effect when Alexander diedapparently of his own excesses (indiscriminately incorporative Cancer), probably compounded, according to some reports, by a fever. On the day of his death, the transiting Moon (moving rapidly, of course) was also in the sign Cancer, the sign of his Sun, and perhaps very close to transiting Jupiter, the planet of release. Transiting Neptune, another planet of release, was quite closely square the progressed Sun, and exactly inconjunct the transiting nodes, and its position was in the eighth housethe house of death. It is needless to say that Neptune is related to alcohol consumption, and that Mars (square Neptune in the natal chart) is related both to intemperance and to fevers.
Evaluation
It has been suggested that the disciples of Shamballa are difficult to understand; the prevailing bias of humanity rejects them for their apparently harsh and cruel ways. One must often evaluate their influence from a perspective somewhat distant from the immediacy of their lives, and in terms of larger processes of civilization and culture.
Could Alexander in any way be considered a disciple? Certainly he appeared egocentric, and at length, megalomaniacalnot traits usually found in one who serves the spiritual advancement of humanity. From a certain perspective, his life of obsessive conquest served no one but himself, contributing steadily to his insistent need for self-aggrandizement and self-glorification. Such a need is usually found only in one who is beset by deep personal insecurities (generated, it may reasonably be thought, by his Cancerian and Venusian qualities and the emotionally vigilant paranoia promoted by his Scorpio Moon)
On the other hand his military exploits, animated increasingly by a spirit of exploration, brought many benefits to the culture and civilization of the period. His own personal interest in scientific investigation (Uranus opposed to Mercuryboth powerful planets in the chart) brought many advances in the knowledge of geography and natural history. His will-to-explore was certainly promoted by his orthodoxly ruling planet, Mars, in the sign of enquiry, Gemini. Operating, even if unconsciously, under the will-to-synthesize (a first ray impulsion strengthened by Aries with its absolutism), he created one world, united both culturally and economically, from Gibraltar to the Punjab. Trade and social intercourse in these regions were greatly enhanced.
Alexanders life has to be evaluated in terms of Shamballic themes. He impacted greatly the civilization of his era paving the way for the world dominion of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity. Synthesis is destructive of a multitude of minor hegemonies.
Alexander was an irresistible cultural force. He was inspired by Hellenic ideals and the heroes and gods of GreeceHeracles, Achilles, Dionysisfigures which were often in his mind and with whom he, romantically (Mars square Neptune) compared himself. But in true fourth ray manner, he was surprising sensitive to the cultural values of his conquered enemies, and sought to befriend them, incorporating their values and traditions into his ever expanding world-empire, and to reconcile and harmonize these values with those of his own Macedonian/Greek culture.
If we understand the meaning of the sign Cancer in combination with the first ray, we will find Alexander to be psychologically incorporative. He sought not only to conquer, but to incorporate his conquests into his own glorified personhoodmerging subdued kingdoms, empires and their subjects into one body within his larger god-like self. When we think of the effect of Alexanders life, the advanced Cancerian mantram, The Whole is seen as One becomes significant. We find the many synthesized into the one, with one figure (himself) as the absolute monarch and guiding spirit of this forcefully achieved wholeness, synthesis, oneness. Of course, such an attitude reeks of extreme self-glorificationeven self-deificationbut one can hardly fail to recognize its foundational impulse as Shamballichowever distorted that impulse had become.
There is no question that, during the millions of years of human progress, war has been inevitable. Humanity, qualified by Scorpio and the fourth ray, is a warring kingdom on its way to an eventual peace and harmony. Alexanders Ascendant and Moon are in Aries and Scorpio respectivelytwo signs governed by Mars (the God of War). To conquer was but to fulfill his destiny. As humanity becomes more psychologically sophisticated, it will incline, increasingly, towards what might be called the internalization of war. Then, the spirit of conquest will no longer cause such great misery and hardship on the external plane of life, but the tremendously potent spirit of an Alexander or a Genghis Khan, will be turned towards the conquest of internal enemiesones own faults and viceseverything of a psychological nature which prevents true freedom of the spirit.
To contemplate the figure of Alexander (a man of iron will, relentless, yet flexible and adaptable, intelligent, imaginative, romantic, full of the sense of glory) is both inspiring and horrifying. From a distance one can marvel at his character, and yet be grateful that he lived in another time and not in the present age (apparently). While abhorring many of the outrageous specifics of his life, one can be filled with admiration for him as a psychological phenomenona testimony to what can be accomplished under the driving force of pure will. Will is neither good nor bad; its application will determine its value in any particular instance. Most of us need far more will than we seem to have, though we would (so we think) never apply the will as Alexander did. That great reservoirs of will do, indeed, exist, and are accessible by the human being, Alexanders short life has demonstrated. We can only imagine his achievement in the realm of soul and spirit, had this great and relentless will been turned inwardas no doubt it someday will be (or, over the course of the last almost 2400 years, has been). It is the nature of the spirit to know its essential greatness and to seek to recapture it. Perhaps, beneath all psychological compensations, this was the motive of this fundamentally spirit-driven man.
Quotations Attributed to Alexander the Great
I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians.
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
I send you a kaffis of mustard seed, that you may taste and acknowledge the bitterness of my victory.
I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.
Before heading for Asia, Alexander found himself in Corinth, where the great thinker Diogenes lived. Diogenes was sitting in a barrel, enjoying the sun paying no attention to Alexander. Alexander was very surprised at this lack of interest and asked if he could do something for Diogenes. Yes, could you move over a bit, you’re blocking my sun” answered Diogenes. “If I wasn’t Alexander I’d be Diogenes” replied Alexander. (in Plutarch’s “Life of Alexander”)
One of the most famous statements by Alexander: I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity. or Its better to burn out than fade away.
Persian women are painful to my eyes
I do not separate people, as do the narrow-minded, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the origin or race of citizens. I only distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me each good foreigner is a Greek and each bad Greek is worse than a barbarian.
I am paying my mother extraordinarily high rent for nine months of dwelling – when he was bombarded by complaints and accusations about Antipater and his associates in Pella. Perhaps, he should have listened more carefully after all….SOURCE HERE
Ετικέτες
Astro-Biography-Alexander the Great
8.7.14
ΙΔΙΩΤΙΚΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΝΕΡΟΥ
Της: Μυρσίνης Μπουρνιά
Αν κάποιος θελήσει να προσεγγίσει το θέµα της ιδιωτικοποίησης της ΕΥ∆ΑΠ, από τα πρώτα βήµατα που θα πρέπει να διανύσει είναι ο εντοπισµός του τι γίνεται σε άλλες χώρες.
Εδώ η παράµετρος του χρόνου έχει τεράστια σηµασία. Η δυναµική της εµπορευµατοποίησης του νερού βρίσκεται σε κατάσταση µεταβολής. Το νερό, χαρακτηριστικό, άµεσα συνδεδεµένο µε την ίδια την ύπαρξη, προσφέρεται για φιλολογία, ποίηση, έµπνευση και γιατί όχι και για κερδοφορία τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες
Οι δηµόσιοι οργανισµοί και το κράτος απέτυχαν να διαχειριστούν αποτελεσµατικά τα δίκτυα. Οι ιδιωτικές εταιρείες είναι αυτές που µπορούν να πετύχουν τη σωστή διαχείριση... Το δωρεάν νερό οδήγησε στην κατασπατάληση των υδάτινων πόρων. Η τιµολόγησή του είναι αυτή που µπορεί να το διαφυλάξει... Τα επόµενα χρόνια η κρίση στο νερό θα ενταθεί. Τώρα είναι επείγον να αναδιαρθρωθεί ο τοµέας των αστικών υπηρεσιών ύδρευσης...
Κάτω απ’ αυτήν την επιχειρηµατολογία, απ’ τα ‘90s και µετά, το νερό αρχίζει να “δείχνει” τις εµπορικές του ιδιότητες. Στην αρχή σποραδικά, εδώ κι εκεί, στις χώρες των πιο τολµηρών οπαδών της αγοράς (πρωτοπόροι και εδώ, όπως και σε άλλους τοµείς που αναδιαρθρώθηκαν ριζικά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, αναδεικνύονται η Θάτσερ και η Αγγλία, στα 1989). Στη συνέχεια, µε όλο και πιο έντονους ρυθµούς, τα αστικά δίκτυα ύδρευσης/αποχέτευσης αποδίδονται προς αναµόρφωση στα χέρια των εµπόρων.
“Το νερό είναι το τελευταίο σύνορο των ιδιωτικοποιήσεων” αναφωνούσε χαρούµενος στα 1997 ο John Barham των Financial Times. Κι από τότε πολύ νερό κύλησε στ’ αυλάκι. Στα µέσα εκείνης της δεκαετίας, οι καπιταλιστές παρατηρούσαν µε δέος τον εαυτό τους µπροστά σε “ένα αναπότρεπτο και διογκούµενο κύµα ανάµιξης του ιδιωτικού τοµέα στις υπηρεσίες παροχής νερού και αποχέτευσης, σε όλο τον κόσµο” (περιοδικό World Water and Environmental Engineering). Κατά τη δεκαετία του ‘90 και µέχρι τα τέλη του 2000, τουλάχιστον 93 κράτη προστέθηκαν στον κατάλογο όσων είχαν ιδιωτικοποιήσει εν µέρει ή συνολικά τα δίκτυα νερού.
Σ’ αυτά περιλαµβάνονταν η βόρεια Αµερική, 23 κράτη στη λατινική Αµερική και την Καραϊβική, 20 στην Ευρώπη, 30 στην Αφρική και την µέση Ανατολή και 17 στην Ασία.... Πέντε εταιρείες (κατά τα πρότυπα των µεγάλων αδελφών του πετρελαίου) είναι αυτές που κυριαρχούν στην παγκόσµια αγορά υπηρεσιών νερού: οι γαλλικές Suez, Vivendi και Saur, η αγγλογερµανική RWE-Thames και η αµερικανική Bechtel. Οι δύο πρώτες ελέγχουν περισσότερο από τα 2/3 της αγοράς και δραστηριοποιούνται σε περισσότερες από 150 χώρες µε περισσότερους από 200 εκατοµµύρια καταναλωτές. Από την Παλαιστίνη και την Ιορδανία µέχρι τις ΗΠΑ και την Βολιβία και από την Κίνα και την Ινδία µέχρι την Ουγγαρία και την Τσεχία, οι στρόφιγγες ανοίγουν διάπλατα επιτρέποντας στο εµπόριο να εκµεταλλεύεται τα αστικά δίκτυα.
Οι ιδιωτικοποιήσεις των κρατικών εταιρειών ύδρευσης ανά τον κόσµο έχουν σχεδόν πάντα ένα κοινό παρανοµαστή: γίνονται υπό την πίεση των διεθνών δανειστών σε χώρες µε µεγάλο δηµόσιο χρέος ή υπό την πίεση πολυεθνικών και πολιτικών σε χώρες µε εύρωστη οικονοµία.
Το κυρίαρχο επιχείρηµα είναι πως το κράτος καθυστερεί πολύ να προσφέρει τις απαραίτητες υπηρεσίες οι οποίες κρίνονται αναποτελεσµατικές, στην ουσία όµως οι χώρες που εφάρµοσαν το δόγµα αυτό οδηγήθηκαν στη δηµιουργία ενός πανίσχυρου ιδιωτικού µονοπωλίου όπου εξαγορές και συγχωνεύσεις κατέλυσαν κάθε έννοια ανταγωνισµού και κάθε ελπίδα για µειωµένα τιµολόγια.
Σήµερα οι µεγάλες πολυεθνικές κατέχουν µόνο το 34% της αγοράς ενώ το 90% των 400 µεγαλύτερων πόλεων στον πλανήτη εξακολουθεί να έχει δηµόσιο δίκτυο ύδρευσης. Το 2011 µόνο το 12% της ύδρευσης σε παγκόσµια κλίµακα ανήκε σε ιδιωτικά χέρια. Η ιδιωτικοποίηση έχει πλέον πάρει τη µορφή επενδύσεων σε υψηλή τεχνολογία και την αγορά των δικαιωµάτων του νερού.
Σε αυτή τη χρονική φάση ο κόσµος του πλανήτη µοιάζει να αντιστέκεται στην πώληση του νερού.
H τάση που ισχύει παγκοσµίως είναι η επιστροφή των δικτύων ύδρευσης και αποχέτευσης στο ∆ηµόσιο. Οι πόλεις σε όλο τον κόσµο αντιµετωπίζουν τις αποτυχίες της ιδιωτικοποίησης του νερού. Η άνιση πρόσβαση, η αθέτηση υποσχέσεων, οι περιβαλλοντικοί κίνδυνοι και τα σκανδαλώδη περιθώρια κέρδους, ωθούν τους δήµους και τους πολίτες να ξαναπάρουν τον έλεγχο των συλλογικών συστηµάτων του πόσιµου νερού.
ΟΙ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΕΣ ΝΕΡΟΥ ΣΕ ∆ΙΑΦΟΡΕΣ ΧΩΡΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ ΤΑ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ
Γαλλία, Παρίσι
24 Νοεµβρίου 2008, το ∆ηµοτικό Συµβούλιο αποφάσισε να µην ανανεώσει τη σύµβαση µε τις ιδιωτικές εταιρείες Veolia και Suez. Οι δύο εταιρείες είχαν τη διαχείριση του συστήµατος ύδρευσης του Παρισιού από το 1985, ενώ η Veolia ήταν υπεύθυνη για τη διαχείριση των λογαριασµών όλου του συστήµατος από το 1860, αλλά ο δήµος αποφάσισε να δηµιουργήσει τη δηµοτική εταιρεία Eau de Paris και να θέσει υπό την εποπτεία του τη λειτουργία του συστήµατος από το 2010.
Η µετάβαση επιτεύχθηκε χωρίς καθυστερήσεις και µε αξιοθαύµαστα αποτελέσµατα όπως σχεδόν 15% εξοικονόµηση τον πρώτο χρόνο, µείωση τιµολογίων κατά 8% τα επόµενα χρόνια µέχρι την προστασία των υδάτινων πόρων. Οι εξοικονοµήσεις που επιτεύχθηκαν αποδεικνύουν ότι οι δύο ιδιωτικές επιχειρήσεις, Suez και Veolia, αποσπούσαν υπερβολικά κέρδη µέσω των συµβάσεων παραχώρησης της διαχείρισης του νερού. Ο νέος δηµόσιος φορέας τερµάτισε την οικονοµική αδιαφάνεια και την κακή λογοδοσία που χαρακτήριζε την ιδιωτικοποίηση, και απέδειξε ότι η «επαναδηµοτικοποίηση» δεν αφορά µόνο τη µεταφορά ιδιοκτησίας και τον έλεγχο της διαχείρισης, αλλά ότι επίσης αγκαλιάζει τις προοδευτικές πολιτικές για το νερό, τη βελτίωση των περιβαλλοντικών προτύπων, την ενίσχυση της διεθνούς αλληλεγγύης και όλων των άλλων στόχων δηµόσιου ενδιαφέροντος.
Ένα ιδιαίτερο αξιοσηµείωτο γεγονός για την προσπάθεια επανακρατικοποίησης της ύδρευσης στο Παρίσι είναι ότι η όλη προσπάθεια ξεκίνησε ως κεντρική πολιτική επιλογή του δήµου και όχι λόγω της πίεσης των πολιτών. Είναι χαρακτηριστικό ότι µόνο οι Πράσινοι και το Κοµµουνιστικό Κόµµα ήταν υπέρ της επιστροφής του δικτύου στον δήµο, ενώ οι σοσιαλιστές δεν έπαιρναν ανοικτά θέση. Αυτό, δηλαδή, που έκανε τον δήµαρχο του Παρισιού να αποφασίσει να αναλάβει ο δήµος το δίκτυο ύδρευσης δεν ήταν ούτε η κοινωνική ούτε η πολιτική πίεση, αλλά η εξονυχιστική έρευνα και οι εξαντλητικοί έλεγχοι που απέδειξαν ότι το εγχείρηµα θα είχε τεράστιες δυνατότητες εξοικονόµησης χρηµάτων την ίδια ώρα που θα προσέφερε καλύτερες υπηρεσίες στους πολίτες. Αυτό που µέτρησε στην απόφαση της δηµοτικής αρχής δεν ήταν η αρχή ότι το νερό πρέπει να το διαχειρίζεται ως «δηµόσιο αγαθό», αλλά ότι ήταν µια πολύ καλή επένδυση για τον δήµο.
Τανζανία, Dar es Salaam.
Στην Αφρική η πιο χαρακτηριστική ίσως περίπτωση ιδιωτικοποίησης είναι εκείνη της Τανζανίας. Το 2003 η χώρα υποχρεώθηκε από την Παγκόσµια Τράπεζα και το ∆ΝΤ να ιδιωτικοποιήσει άµεσα το απαρχαιωµένο και αναποτελεσµατικό της δηµόσιο δίκτυο ύδρευσης ως αντάλλαγµα δανείων. Καθώς κανείς δεν ήθελε να επενδύσει στην αγορά της Τανζανίας και το ∆ΝΤ ασκούσε όλο και µεγαλύτερες πιέσεις, η χώρα προχώρησε στο ξεπούληµα του δικτύου στην βρετανική Biwater. Το ειρωνικό της απόφασης ήταν πως η κυβέρνηση της Τανζανίας υποχρεώθηκε να συµµετάσχει στην χρηµατοδότηση των επενδύσεων της Biwater στο δίκτυο µε δάνεια που της έδωσε το ∆ΝΤ και η Παγκόσµια Τράπεζα ως αντάλλαγµα για την ιδιωτικοποίηση. Μέσα σε ένα χρόνο από την έλευση της Biwater, οι καταναλωτές είδαν τους λογαριασµούς του νερού να τριπλασιάζονται ενώ οι φτωχότεροι αποσυνδέθηκαν από το δίκτυο ύδρευσης. Στην ουσία το 98% του δικτύου εξυπηρετούσε τους ελάχιστους πλούσιους, αφήνοντας εκατοµµύρια ανθρώπους χωρίς νερό. Η εταιρεία δεν έκανε καµία επένδυση όπως όριζε η συµφωνία και κατηγόρησε την κυβέρνηση ότι της έδωσε ψεύτικα στοιχεία και πως η επένδυση ήταν ασύµφορη. Τελικά η Τανζανία επανακρατικοποίησε το δίκτυο ύδρευσης και έδιωξε την Biwater από την χώρα. Η Biwater οδήγησε την Τανζανία στα δικαστήρια αλλά έχασε την δίκη το 2008 και υποχρεώθηκε να καταβάλει στην κυβέρνηση 3 εκ. λίρες ως αποζηµίωση.
Νότια Αφρική
Στη Νότια Αφρική η ιδιωτικοποίηση του δικτύου ύδρευσης είχε ως αποτέλεσµα µια από τις χειρότερες επιδηµίες χολέρας στις φτωχές συνοικίες του Γιοχάνεσµπουργκ το 2000-2002. Η επιδηµία ξεκίνησε όταν οι κάτοικοι των παραγκοπουπόλεων αποσυνδέθηκαν από το ιδιωτικό δίκτυο ύδρευσης επειδή αδυνατούσαν να πληρώσουν τους αυξηµένους λογαριασµούς.
Χωρίς ασφαλές αποχετευτικό σύστηµα και χωρίς πρόσβαση σε καθαρό νερό, οι κάτοικοι αναγκάστηκαν να πίνουν νερό από τα µολυσµένα ποτάµια της περιοχής. Η επιδηµία χολέρας είχε ως αποτέλεσµα να αρρωστήσουν περισσότεροι από 100.000 και τουλάχιστον 100 να χάσουν τη ζωή τους. Η κυβέρνηση αντέδρασε δυναµικά και υποχρέωσε τις ιδιωτικές εταιρείες να παρέχουν τουλάχιστον 25 λίτρα νερό σε κάθε κάτοικο καθηµερινά κατά τη διάρκεια της επιδηµίας. Αν και οι εταιρείες διαµαρτυρήθηκαν έντονα συµµορφώθηκαν µε την απόφαση αλλά εξακολούθησαν να αποσυνδέουν το νερό στους φτωχούς.
Φιλιππίνες, Μανίλα
H πώληση του δικτύου ύδρευσης στην πρωτεύουσα των Φιλιππίνων Μανίλα, θεωρήθηκε ως το πιο φιλόδοξο και «επιτυχηµένο» πείραµα ιδιωτικοποίησης. Το 1997 η κυβέρνηση αντιµετωπίζοντας οικονοµικά προβλήµατα και ύστερα από συµβουλές της Παγκόσµιας Τράπεζας αποφασίζει πως για να καλύψει τα οικονοµικά κενά έπρεπε να πουλήσει το νερό. Το δίκτυο ήταν ήδη σε κακή κατάσταση και 4 από τα 11 εκατοµµύρια των κατοίκων της δεν είχαν σύνδεση. Το δίκτυο χωρίστηκε σε δύο ζώνες και δόθηκε σε consortium εταιρειών. Τα πρώτα χρόνια και λόγω του ανταγωνισµού οι τιµές µειώθηκαν στο µισό και οι συνδέσεις έφτασαν το 87% των κατοίκων. Από το 2001 όµως και µετά η κατάσταση άλλαξε δραµατικά. Οι τιµές αυξήθηκαν µέχρι και 500% σε σχέση µε τα επίπεδα του 1997 και η µέση οικογένεια ξόδευε το 10% του εισοδήµατος της στους λογαριασµούς του νερού. Το 40% του λογαριασµού δεν αφορούσε στην κατανάλωση αλλά παράνοµες χρεώσεις. Το 2003 περισσότεροι από 800 άνθρωποι προσβλήθηκαν από επιδηµία χολέρας στο δίκτυο που προκλήθηκε από την κακή συντήρηση των σωληνώσεων και τη µη επιδιόρθωση των διαρροών.
Αργεντινή, Buenos Aires.
Η Αργεντινή ήταν από τις πρώτες χώρες που ιδιωτικοποίησε το σύστηµα ύδρευσης της. Το 1993 η κυβέρνηση παρέδωσε τη δηµοτική ύδρευση σε ένα consortium πολυεθνικών και τοπικών εταιρειών. Η παγκόσµια Τράπεζα έσπευσε να συγχαρεί την κίνηση της Αργεντινής χαρακτηρίζοντας την ως την πιο ελπιδοφόρα επένδυση. Όµως η χαρά δεν κράτησε πολύ. Οι εταιρείες τοποθέτησαν σε θέσεις κλειδιά φίλους της κυβέρνησης µε τεράστιους µισθούς ενώ για να ανταπεξέλθουν στο υψηλό κόστος επέβαλαν αύξηση των τιµολογίων που έπληξαν εκατοµµύρια φτωχών. Σε πολλές περιπτώσεις οι εταιρείες για να αυξήσουν τα κέρδη µείωσαν τα έξοδα συντήρησης ενώ δεν προχώρησαν στην αντικατάσταση των παλιών σωλήνων µε αποτέλεσµα το νερό να πληµµυρίζει τις φτωχότερες συνοικίες. Με την οικονοµική κρίση που ακολούθησε, οι καταναλωτές δεν µπορούσαν πλέον να πληρώσουν τους λογαριασµούς νερού και το 2005, οι πολυεθνικές Suez and Aguas de Barcelona αποσύρθηκαν από το πρόγραµµα. Η κυβέρνηση επανακρατικοποίησε το δίκτυο, του οποίου όµως οι ζηµιές ήταν τόσο µεγάλες ώστε χρειάστηκε να το αποκαταστήσει από την αρχή. Η απόφαση της κυβέρνησης να τερµατίσει την συµφωνία µε την εταιρεία Suez ήταν πολύ δύσκολη δεδοµένων των νοµικών συνεπειών που είχε να αντιµετωπίσει: η εταιρεία απαίτησε από το κράτος της Αργεντινής 1.7 δις δολάρια στο ∆ιεθνές Κέντρο για την επίλυση συµβατικών διαφορών (ICSID), του οποίου η απόφαση ακόµα εκκρεµεί. Η απόφαση για τερµατισµό του συµβολαίου προήλθε από τη συστηµατική αθέτηση της Suez να εκπληρώσει τους συµβατικούς όρους που αφορούσαν την επέκταση του δικτύου και τη βελτίωση της ποιότητας των παρεχόµενων υπηρεσιών. Η εταιρεία όχι µόνο δεν προχωρούσε σε επενδύσεις που είχαν συµφωνηθεί αλλά συνεχώς ζητούσε επαναδιαπραγµάτευση των όρων του συµβολαίου για να πετύχει αύξηση των κερδών. Η νέα δηµόσια εταιρεία, η οποία ανήκει 100% στο σύλλογο των εργαζοµένων, επέτυχε αξιοθαύµαστα αποτελέσµατα στα πρώτα πέντε χρόνια λειτουργίας της, ιδιαίτερα όσον αφορά στην επέκταση του δικτύου σε φτωχές περιοχές, στη συµµετοχή των πολιτών αυτών των περιοχών σε προγράµµατα δηµόσιων έργων και στη διεύρυνση της πρόσβασης σε νερό και αποχέτευση. Η πόλη είναι πλέον καλύτερα προετοιµασµένη να αντιµετωπίσει τις προκλήσεις στον τοµέα της ύδρευσης, αν και είναι σοβαρές.
Καναδάς, Hamilton
Τουλάχιστον 7 άνθρωποι έχασαν τη ζωή τους αφού µολύνθηκαν από το βακτήριο E coli στο Walkerton, Ontario ύστερα από την ιδιωτικοποίηση του ελέγχου ποιότητας του νερού που πέρασε στον έλεγχο της A&L LABS. Η εταιρία χαρακτήρισε τα αποτελέσµατα των ελέγχων «απόρρητη πνευµατική ιδιοκτησία» και αρνήθηκε να τα κοινοποιήσει. Το 2004 ένας δεκαετής αγώνας ενάντια στην ιδιωτικοποίηση του νερού τερµατίστηκε µε µια σηµαντική νίκη των πολιτών της πόλης Hamilton του Καναδά. Τον Σεπτέµβριο του ίδιου έτους, το δηµοτικό συµβούλιο ψήφισε την επαναδηµοτικοποίηση της λειτουργίας και της συντήρησης του νερού της πόλης και ανέλαβε τους σταθµούς επεξεργασίας λυµάτων, θέτοντας τέλος σε µια εποχή µυστικότητας, δυσλειτουργικού εξοπλισµού, διαρροής λυµάτων και συνεχών αλλαγών στις εταιρείες εργολάβων. Αυτό ήταν το πιο αξιοσηµείωτο επίτευγµα δεδοµένου ότι ο δήµος ήθελε να διατηρήσει την ανάθεση στον ιδιωτικό τοµέα, αλλά η σαφής κατανοµή των κινδύνων στην προσφορά έκανε την συµφωνία οικονοµικά µη ελκυστική στις ιδιωτικές εταιρείες ενώ καµία δεν θα µπορούσε να αντεπεξέλθει στα προαπαιτούµενα της. Στα επόµενα χρόνια σηµειώθηκε µια θεαµατική βελτίωση των τεχνικών και περιβαλλοντικών επιδόσεων των συστηµάτων, το προσωπικό ξεπέρασε τους στόχους που αρχικά είχαν τεθεί για την ιδιωτική εταιρεία που θα είχε την ευθύνη. Η πόλη είναι τώρα καλύτερα εξοπλισµένη για να αντιµετωπίσει τις προκλήσεις στον τοµέα του νερού, ακόµη και αν αυτές είναι σοβαρές.
Μαλαισία.
Κατά την περίοδο 2005-2006, το Οµοσπονδιακό Κοινοβούλιο της Μαλαισίας τροποποίησε το Σύνταγµα και ψήφισε δύο διατάξεις που επιτρέπουν µια σαρωτική µεταρρύθµιση του τοµέα των υδάτων. Η µεταρρύθµιση αυτή επέτρεψε στην οµοσπονδιακή κυβέρνηση να αξιοποιήσει όλα τα περιουσιακά στοιχεία που ανήκαν προηγουµένως σε τοπικές επιχειρήσεις ύδατος, είτε δηµόσιες είτε ιδιωτικές, και να προχωρήσει µε διαδικασίες fast-track σε ταχεία ανάπτυξη τους µε κυβερνητική χρηµατοδότηση. Οι φορείς εκµετάλλευσης θα µπορούν αργότερα να συνάπτουν σύντοµες συµβάσεις µίσθωσης για τη διαχείριση του ανανεωµένου δικτύου ύδρευσης, αλλά ο στόχος ήταν να φέρει το σύστηµα ύδρευσης της χώρας υπό αυστηρότερο δηµόσιο έλεγχο και εποπτεία.
Βρετανία
Οι ιδιωτικοποιήσεις που έγιναν κατά την περίοδο 1989-1993 είχαν σαν αποτέλεσµα την αύξηση της τιµής του νερού σε πρώτη φάση κατά 50% και συνολικά κατά 245% µέχρι το 2006. Οι παρεχόµενες υπηρεσίες ύδρευσης υποβαθµίστηκαν, καθώς οι εταιρείες, προκειµένου να µην χάσουν από την κερδοφορία, περιόρισαν στο ελάχιστο δυνατό τις επενδύσεις σε έργα υποδοµής.
Θεσπίστηκε Ρυθµιστική Αρχή Υδάτων, η οποία, όµως, δεν µπόρεσε να συγκρατήσει τις τιµές, ενώ δεν µπόρεσε να εξασφαλίσει ούτε τις αναγκαίες επενδύσεις από τις ιδιωτικές εταιρείες. Το αποτέλεσµα ήταν όταν οι υποδοµές άρχισαν να παρουσιάζουν σηµαντικά λειτουργικά προβλήµατα να χορηγηθούν κονδύλια από τον κρατικό προϋπολογισµό.
Η ιδιωτικοποίηση των αστικών δικτύων ύδρευσης/αποχέτευσης είναι η πιο διάσηµη περίπτωση απ’ όλες και ταυτόχρονα η µεγαλύτερη στην αγγλική ιστορία. Το 1988 η κυβέρνηση της Θάτσερ µετέτρεψε τους 10 περιφερειακούς οργανισµούς ύδρευσης της Αγγλίας και της Ουαλίας σε εµπορικές επιχειρήσεις. Τα δέκα νέα ιδιωτικά µονοπώλια απ’ την αρχή τους στηρίχτηκαν σε µεγάλες άµεσες και έµµεσες κρατικές επιδοτήσεις. ∆ιαγράφτηκαν όλα τα χρέη των οργανισµών πριν ιδιωτικοποιηθούν - 8 δισ. δολάρια. Η κυβέρνηση επιχορήγησε τις εταιρείες µε 2,6 δισ. δολάρια... Τα πρώτα χρόνια οι αυξήσεις στις τιµές ξεπέρασαν το 50% και µέχρι το 1997 οι δέκα εταιρείες εµφάνιζαν αύξηση της κερδοφορίας ως και 147%. Με περιθώρια κέρδους τρεις και τέσσερις φορές µεγαλύτερα απ’ την Γαλλία ή τη Γερµανία, γρήγορα η Suez, η Vivendi και η RWE µπήκαν στη βρετανική αγορά. Όπως ήταν αναµενόµενο, οι αυξήσεις στις τιµές προκάλεσαν ένα αυξανόµενο ρυθµό στις διακοπές παροχής νερού, και µέχρι το 1994 σχεδόν 20.000 νοικοκυριά είχαν αποσυνδεθεί από το δίκτυο. Αυτό, µε τη σειρά του, οδήγησε στην αύξηση των κρουσµάτων δυσεντερίας σχεδόν σε όλες τις µεγάλες αστικές περιοχές. Όταν οι διακοπές για απλήρωτους λογαριασµούς έφτασαν ένα κρίσιµο µέγεθος, οι εταιρείες εφάρµοσαν το µέτρο των “προπληρωµένων ρολογιών” για τα νοικοκυριά που αδυνατούσαν να πληρώσουν τον τακτικό λογαριασµό. Τα ρολόγια αυτά παρείχαν νερό µόνο εφόσον οι χρήστες είχαν προπληρώσει ένα ποσό χρεωµένο σε πλαστική κάρτα. Όταν η κάρτα άδειαζε, το ρολόι διέκοπτε την παροχή. Οι εταιρείες ονόµασαν αυτές τις διακοπές “αυτο-αποσυνδέσεις”. Μέχρι το 1996 πάνω από 16.000 τέτοιοι µηχανισµοί είχαν εγκατασταθεί σε αγγλικά σπίτια. Τελικά αποσύρθηκαν, όταν οι οργισµένες αντιδράσεις των “αυτο-αποσυνδεµένων” ανάγκασαν την κυβέρνηση να ψηφίσει την απαγόρευσή τους. Λίγο καιρό αργότερα βέβαια οι εταιρείες µπόρεσαν να χρησιµοποιήσουν τους ίδιους µετρητές στη νότια Αφρική.
Έξι χρόνια µετά την ιδιωτικοποίηση, έχει αυξηθεί η αποδοτικότητα ; Ρωτήστε τους εκατοντάδες που δεν µπορούν να ποτίσουν τα λουλούδια τους. Έπεσαν οι τιµές; Ρωτήστε τα εκατοµµύρια που οι λογαριασµοί τους έχουν διπλασιαστεί. Ανταγωνιστικότητα; Ούτε κατά διάνοια, εκτός αν συγκρίνουµε µε το Perrier. Έτσι σχολίαζε τα επιτεύγµατα της αγγλικής ιδιωτικοποίησης η Wall Street Journal, το 1994 -ακόµα κι αυτή... Η Daily Mail θα κάνει µια περιεκτική σύνοψη: Η βιοµηχανία νερού έχει µετατραπεί στη µεγαλύτερη κλοπή στη Βρετανία. Οι λογαριασµοί του νερού, τόσο για τα νοικοκυριά όσο και για τη βιοµηχανία, έχουν εκτοξευτεί. Και οι διευθυντές και οι µέτοχοι των δέκα µεγαλύτερων εταιρειών νερού της Βρετανίας µπόρεσαν να χρησιµοποιήσουν τη θέση τους ως µονοπωλιακοί προµηθευτές, για να φέρουν σε πέρας την µεγαλύτερη ενέργεια εγκεκριµένης ληστείας στην ιστορία µας.(Ιούλιος 1994)
Ιταλία
Τον περασµένο Ιούνιο πραγµατοποιήθηκε δηµοψήφισµα προκειµένου να κριθεί η νοµοθετική πρόταση για την ιδιωτικοποίηση του νερού. Οι Ιταλοί σε ποσοστό 95% ψήφισαν κατά της ιδιωτικοποίησης του νερού και της εκµετάλλευσης των δικτύων.
Βολιβία
Το 1998 το ∆ΝΤ εγκρίνει δάνειο υπό την προϋπόθεση της ιδιωτικοποίησης όλων των δηµοσίων υπηρεσιών. Το 1999 η Παγκόσµια Τράπεζα συστήνει ιδιωτικοποίηση της δηµοτικής εταιρίας ύδρευσης της Cochabamba, Servicio Municipal del Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (SENIAPA). Αξιωµατούχοι της τράπεζας απείλησαν ανοιχτά να παρακρατήσουν 600 εκατοµµύρια $ από την δανειακή σύµβαση αν η Βολιβία δεν αποδεχόταν. Tην ίδια χρονιά, παραχωρήθηκε το δίκτυο ύδρευσης σε όµιλο εταιρειών µε επικεφαλής την αµερικανική Bechtel. Το 2000 η αύξηση της τιµής του νερού είχε φτάσει σε δυσθεώρητα επίπεδα, µε αποτέλεσµα να προκληθούν ταραχές και συγκρούσεις των πολιτών µε την αστυνοµία και τραγικό απολογισµό 7 νεκρούς.
Η κυβέρνηση αποφάσισε να επανακρατικοποιήσει το δίκτυο και η αµερικανική εταιρεία αξιώνει αποζηµίωση ύψους 25 εκατοµµυρίων δολαρίων.
Γερµανία
Στην Γερµανία οι υπηρεσίες ύδρευσης ανήκουν στον δηµόσιο τοµέα παντού εκτός από το Βερολίνο ενώ η Ολλανδία µε νόµο του 2004 κήρυξε παράνοµη κάθε συµµετοχή ιδιωτικού οργανισµού σε υπηρεσίες ύδρευσης.
Από έρευνα για την ιδιωτικοποίηση στις ΗΠΑ, κατά την οποία εξετάστηκαν τα δέκα µεγαλύτερα συστήµατα ύδρευσης της χώρας, προέκυψε ότι έπειτα από 20 χρόνια ιδιωτικοποίησης οι τιµές αυξήθηκαν τρεις φορές πάνω από τον πληθωρισµό και οι λογαριασµοί νερού των νοικοκυριών κατά µέσον όρο τριπλασιάστηκαν στα πρώτα δέκα χρόνια!
ΟΙ ΣΥΝΕΠΕΙΕΣ ΤΩΝ ΙΔΙΩΤΙΚΟΠΟΙΗΣΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΩΝ ΝΕΡΟΥ
Η ιστορία των αρνητικών συνεπειών στην υγεία και στην οικονοµία από τις ιδιωτικοποιήσεις των εταιρειών του νερού, δεν εξαντλείται σε αυτές τις αναφορές, Το διαδίκτυο είναι κατάµεστο µε σχετικές αναφορές από όλες τις χώρες που η κερδοσκοπία δεν κοντοστάθηκε ούτε µπροστά στο δικαίωµα λίγου καθαρού νερού, που θα έπρεπε καθένας που υπάρχει στον πλανήτη Γη, χωρίς διακρίσεις, χωρίς εκµετάλλευση, χωρίς την αντιµετώπιση των παιδιών ενός κατώτατου θεού.
Οι υποστηρικτές της ιδιωτικοποίησης, αντιµετωπίζοντας το νερό ως εµπόρευµα, υποσχέθηκαν παγκόσµια αυξηµένες επενδύσεις και µεγάλη αποτελεσµατικότητα στη διαχείριση του νερού. Η κυρίαρχη µορφή ιδιωτικοποίησης διεθνώς ήταν το λεγόµενο «γαλλικό µοντέλο» σύµπραξης δηµόσιου-ιδιωτικού τοµέα (Σ∆ΙΤ), κατά το οποίο οι επενδύσεις και η ιδιοκτησία των υποδοµών ανήκουν στο ∆ηµόσιο και η διαχείριση - διανοµή του νερού στον ιδιωτικό τοµέα.
Οι έρευνες για τα αποτελέσµατα της ιδιωτικοποίησης σε όλες τις ηπείρους, στις ΗΠΑ, στην Ευρώπη, καθώς και έρευνα του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου, κατέληξαν στο συµπέρασµα ότι παντού, όπου υπήρξε ιδιωτικοποίηση, αυτή συνοδεύθηκε από υποβάθµιση της ποιότητας του νερού, αύξηση της απώλειας νερού, υποβάθµιση των υποδοµών και αύξηση των τιµών.
∆ιαβάζοντας τις επιπτώσεις στον υπόλοιπο κόσµο µπορούµε πολύ απλά να καταλάβουµε ποιες θα είναι οι επιδράσεις στην ελληνική κοινωνία από την ιδιωτικοποίηση του νερού. Το νερό είναι ελεύθερο κοινωνικό αγαθό και πηγή ζωής. Μάλιστα σύµφωνα µε τις µελέτες που είχαν κάνει για το Παρίσι, προέκυψε ότι µε τον δηµόσιο πάροχο θα εξοικονοµούνταν τουλάχιστον 30 εκατοµµύρια ευρώ το χρόνο. Ένα µεγάλο µέρος αυτών των χρηµάτων θα ήταν το κέρδος του ιδιώτη. Άρα αν το κέρδος του ιδιώτη διοχετευθεί στην παροχή του νερού µπορεί να κρατηθεί χαµηλή και σταθερή η τιµή του και παράλληλα να εξασφαλιστεί ένα υψηλό επίπεδο επενδύσεων και υπηρεσιών. Επιπρόσθετα, η δηµόσια διαχείριση της ύδρευσης, δίνει τη δυνατότητα µακροπρόθεσµης διαχείρισης του ενεργητικού ώστε να µπορούν να σχεδιαστούν επενδύσεις. Κι εδώ έγκειται η διαφορά. Έναν ιδιώτη δεν τον ενδιαφέρει να επενδύσει για παράδειγµα σε µία παλιά εγκατάσταση νερού γιατί τα συµβόλαια τους είναι έως 30 χρόνια ενώ οι επενδύσεις σε νερό επιφέρουν κέρδος µετά από 30-60 χρόνια. Για αυτό και οι ιδιώτες επενδυτές αποφεύγουν την επένδυση κεφαλαίου σε κανάλια. Αντίθετα ένας δηµόσιος φορέας εκµετάλλευσης δεν έχει τέτοιους περιορισµούς. Μπορεί να σχεδιάζει και να δεσµεύεται σε βάθος χρόνου για να εξασφαλίσει τη σωστή διαχείριση και προστασία των υδάτινων πόρων. Το µεγάλο στοίχηµα είναι η προστασία των µεγαλύτερων υδάτινων όγκων, γιατί έτσι δε θα χρειάζεται η υπερβολική επεξεργασία του νερού η οποία κοστίζει πολύ. Στις ιδιωτικές επιχειρήσεις το ένα τρίτο του προϋπολογισµού πηγαίνει στη συντήρηση των αγωγών. Αυτό σηµαίνει ότι αν σπάσει κάποιος αγωγός, το ονοµάζουν ανακαίνιση και ο καταναλωτής χρεώνεται επιπλέον. Ο ιδιώτης δεν ενδιαφέρεται να διορθώσει διαρροές εφόσον υπολογίζεται µόνο όσο νερό καταναλώνεται. Έτσι, δεν εξοικονοµείται νερό.
Συγκεντρώνοντας µερικές από τις αρνητικές συνέπειες των ιδιωτικοποιήσεων των εταιρειών νερού στον κόσµο, παρατηρούµε:
Μαζικές απολύσεις στις υπηρεσίες νερού. Στην Αγγλία η πρώτη ενέργεια των διοικήσεων µετά την µετατροπή των περιφερειακών οργανισµών ύδρευσης σε Α.Ε. ήταν η απόλυση του 25% από τους σχεδόν εκατό χιλιάδες εργάτες. Στην κεντρική Ευρώπη υπήρξαν περιπτώσεις που οι απολύσεις ξεπέρασαν το 30%. Τα ίδια στην Αυστραλία, στην Ασία και στη νότια Αµερική (στην Αργεντινή µάλιστα οι απολύσεις έγιναν µε τη συναίνεση των συνδικαλιστών, χάρη σε µικρό αριθµό µετοχών που τους προσφέρθηκαν). Οι απολύσεις, ή η απειλή απολύσεων αποτελεί ταυτόχρονα την πάγια απάντηση των εταιρειών σε κάθε διαµαρτυρία και αντίδραση για τις τιµές που χρεώνουν.
Κατακόρυφη αύξηση των τιµών. Στη Βολιβία, µετά από αυξήσεις των τιµών από 100% ως 200%, πολλά νοικοκυριά πλήρωναν περισσότερο από το 1/3 των εισοδηµάτων τους για νερό (τα έξοδα για φαγητό τους έρχονταν λιγότερο). Στην Αγγλία, οι αυξήσεις ξεπέρασαν το 100% (ενώ, ταυτόχρονα, τα κέρδη των εταιρειών ξεπέρασαν το 600%). Στη Γαλλία, όταν ήταν δήµαρχος ο Σιράκ (1977 - 1995) αποκαλούσαν το νερό “Chateau Chirac”, γιατί η τιµή του ταίριαζε σε γαλλικό κρασί (αλλά και εξαιτίας των στενών δεσµών του Σιράκ µε την Vivendi και τη Suez). Στις Φιλιππίνες οι αυξήσεις άγγιξαν το 400%.
Πάγωµα των επενδύσεων σε υποδοµές. Τα συµβόλαια που υπογράφτηκαν σε όλο τον κόσµο είναι όµορφα σαν παραµύθια και οι επενδύσεις στα δίκτυα είναι το πιο µεγάλο απ’ όλα. Στη µυθολογία της αγοράς, η εµπλοκή του ιδιωτικού τοµέα στις υπηρεσίες έχει ταυτιστεί µε χρήµα που ρέει στις υποδοµές (σε αντίθεση µε το δηµόσιο, όπου η γραφειοκρατία και η κακοδιαχείριση καταναλώνουν την µερίδα του λέοντος απ’ τα διαθέσιµα κεφάλαια). Η αλήθεια είναι βέβαια πως σ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της δεκαετίας του ‘90 από το σύνολο των παγκόσµιων επενδύσεων σε υποδοµές µόνο το 5,4% αφορούσε το νερό. Ψίχουλα µπροστά σ’ αυτά που απαιτούνται όχι για την βελτίωση και επέκταση, αλλά ακόµη και για την καθηµερινή λειτουργία και συντήρηση των δικτύων.
Σύνδεση της αναδιάρθρωσης των αστικών δικτύων µε την διαπραγµάτευση του εξωτερικού χρέους. Παρ’ όλη την παραφιλολογία των think tanks για τους λόγους της τεράστιας εξάπλωσης των ιδιωτικοποιήσεων, η αλήθεια είναι ότι οι εταιρείες νερού έκλεισαν τα συµβόλαιά τους χάρη στις πλάτες των µεγάλων πρωτοκοσµικών κρατών που δανείζουν και έχουν τον έλεγχο του δηµόσιου χρέους στον τρίτο κόσµο. Πρωτοπόρο κράτος στην πρακτική αυτή είναι η Γαλλία, πράγµα που εξηγεί κιόλας τα πολυάριθµα συµβόλαια στην υποσαχάρια Αφρική, παραδοσιακή σφαίρα επιρροής του Παρισιού.
Επιδείνωση των συνθηκών δηµόσιας υγείας. Ο έλεγχος κοστίζει, η απολύµανση κοστίζει, η επιδιόρθωση των βλαβών κοστίζει, το δωρεάν νερό απαγορεύεται, αλλά τα βακτηρίδια είναι σε αφθονία. Μετά την ιδιωτικοποίηση στην Αγγλία εµφανίστηκε τεράστια αύξηση των κρουσµάτων δυσεντερίας. Στη νότια Αφρική το κόψιµο των παροχών νερού λόγω απλήρωτων λογαριασµών και η υποβάθµιση των δικτύων αποχέτευσης στις φτωχές περιοχές οδήγησε στη µεγαλύτερη επιδηµία χολέρας στην ιστορία της χώρας. Στην Ατλάντα, µόνο το 2002, εκδόθηκαν πέντε επείγουσες προειδοποιήσεις για βρασµό του νερού πριν καταναλωθεί. Στο Οντάριο, µετά από αυτό που η τοπική κυβέρνηση ονόµασε “επανάσταση της κοινής λογικής”, διάφορες υπηρεσίες νερού ιδιωτικοποιήθηκαν. Όταν το 1999 µια µελέτη έδειξε ότι το 1/3 του νερού στο Οντάριο είναι µολυσµένο µε Ε. coli, η κυβέρνηση απλά αφαίρεσε τον συγκεκριµένο µικροβιολογικό έλεγχο απ’ τον κατάλογο, και την επόµενη χρονιά κατάργησε εντελώς το πρόγραµµα ελέγχου της ποιότητας του νερού.
Κατά έναν τρόπο, υπερβολικό αλλά όχι αστήρικτο, η αναδιάρθρωση του τοµέα της ύδρευσης/αποχέτευσης, αυτό που πέτυχε είναι να βγάλει από το κέντρο αυτού του τοµέα το ίδιο το νερό. Οι εταιρείες που ανέλαβαν τα συµβόλαια ιδιωτικοποιήσεων στα δίκτυα, έδρασαν ασχολούµενες µε οτιδήποτε άλλο εκτός από το νερό. Ή, πιο σωστά, ασχολήθηκαν µε οτιδήποτε αφορά το νερό στην τιµολογηµένη του διάσταση. Συµπίεση του κόστους, αυξήσεις τιµών, απολύσεις, συναλλαγµατικά παιχνίδια, απάτες, εγκατάλειψη των υποδοµών, όλα αυτά που είναι η πραγµατική ζωή των επιχειρήσεων... Σ’ όλο τον κόσµο η αγορά περιορίστηκε στη βασική για το εµπόριο δραστηριότητα: τοποθέτηση µετρητών κατανάλωσης (ρολογιών) εκεί που δεν υπήρχαν, έκδοση µετοχών και έκδοση/είσπραξη λογαριασµών.
ΔΙΕΘΝΕΙΣ ΤΑΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟ ΧΩΡΟ ΤΟΥ ΝΕΡΟΥ
Η παγκόσµια εµπειρία απέδειξε ότι το µοντέλο της δηµόσιας-κοινωνικής διαχείρισης, που στηρίζεται στη συνεργασία µεταξύ δηµόσιων φορέων, συνεταιρισµών, εργατικών σωµατείων και άλλων συλλογικοτήτων µιας κοινότητας, δίνοντας έµφαση στη συµµετοχή των πολιτών, είναι αυτό που διασφαλίζει υψηλή ποιότητα νερού, µικρές απώλειες και χαµηλές τιµές, µε κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη.
Την ίδια στιγµή κυβερνήσεις εκχωρούν τον έλεγχο των εγχώριων αποθεµάτων νερού µέσα από εµπορικές συµφωνίες που υπογράφουν µεταξύ τους, όπως τη NAFTA (Βορειοαµερικανική Συµφωνία Ελεύθερων Συναλλαγών), την FTAA (Περιοχή Ελεύθερου Εµπορίου της Αµερικανικής Ηπείρου), αναµενόµενος διάδοχος της NAFTA, και µε τον Παγκόσµιο Οργανισµό Εµπορίου. Στην ουσία αυτές οι συµφωνίες δίνουν στις υπερεθνικές εταιρίες πρωτοφανή πρόσβαση στους υδάτινους πόρους των χωρών που υπέγραψαν. Ήδη εταιρίες έχουν αρχίσει να ασκούν αγωγές κατά των κυβερνήσεων για να αποκτήσουν πρόσβαση στις εγχώριες πηγές και, προστατευµένες από αυτές τις διεθνείς εµπορικές συµφωνίες, θέτουν ως στόχο την εµπορευµατοποίηση του νερού.
Το νερό χαρακτηρίζεται ως «αγαθό» από τον Παγκόσµιο Οργανισµό Εµπορίου και τη NAFTA και ως «επένδυση» από τη NAFTA. Είναι όµως «υπηρεσία» στις διαπραγµατεύσεις για την GATS (Γενική Συµφωνία για το Εµπόριο και τις Υπηρεσίες). Οι όροι της NAFTA και της GATS προβλέπουν ότι οι κυβερνήσεις που ιδιωτικοποιούν τις δηµοτικές υπηρεσίες ύδρευσης πρέπει να επιτρέπουν τη συµµετοχή υπερεθνικών εταιριών στους διαγωνισµούς που προκηρύσσουν. Παράλληλα, από τη στιγµή που εκχωρείται άδεια σε µια εγχώρια εταιρία να εξάγει νερό για εµπορικούς σκοπούς, οι ξένες εταιρίες αποκτούν το δικαίωµα να ιδρύουν επιχειρήσεις στην εν λόγω χώρα.
Η NAFTA περιλαµβάνει ρήτρες που προβλέπουν το «αναλογικό µοίρασµα» των πόρων ενέργειας που εµπορεύονται µεταξύ τους οι υπογράφουσες χώρες. Αυτό σηµαίνει ότι το πετρέλαιο και το φυσικό αέριο δεν ανήκουν πια στις χώρες εξόρυξης, αλλά αποτελούν κοινό πόρο για όλη την ήπειρο.
Ο Παγκόσµιος Οργανισµός Εµπορίου ανοίγει επίσης τις πόρτες για την εµπορική εξαγωγή νερού, απαγορεύοντας την επιβολή ελέγχων στα προϊόντα εξαγωγής πάνω σε οποιοδήποτε «αγαθό» και για οποιονδήποτε λόγο. Αυτό σηµαίνει ότι οι ποσοστώσεις που έχουν επιβληθεί στην εξαγωγή νερού για περιβαλλοντικούς λόγους µπορούν να αµφισβητηθούν ως µορφή προστατευτισµού. Στην υπουργική συνάντηση του Παγκόσµιου Οργανισµού Εµπορίου στο Κατάρ, τον ∆εκέµβριο του 2001, προστέθηκε µια ρήτρα στο αποκαλούµενο Κείµενο της Ντόχα, η οποία προβλέπει ότι οι κυβερνήσεις θα άρουν κάθε είδους εµπόδιο –π.χ. περιβαλλοντικές ρυθµίσεις ή δασµούς– για τις υπηρεσίες περιβάλλοντος, στις οποίες περιλαµβάνεται και το νερό.
ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑ∆Α;
Ενώ λοιπόν παγκοσµίως οι ιδιωτικοποιήσεις του νερού έχουν αποτύχει και υπάρχει έντονη τάση επανακρατικοποίησης, η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή θέτει την πώληση των δικτύων ύδρευσης ως µία από τις προϋποθέσεις των οικονοµικών πακέτων διάσωσης σε Ελλάδα και Πορτογαλία. Η ελληνική κυβέρνηση και όσοι την στηρίζουν, αδιαφορώντας πλήρως για τις συνέπειες ενέκρινε το νοµοσχέδιο για τις αποκρατικοποιήσεις, µεταξύ των οποίων και του δικτύου ύδρευσης.
Με το Μνηµόνιο 3 µία ακόµη «πλουτοπαραγωγική» πηγή της χώρας µας, το νερό, µπαίνει στο στόχαστρο των πολυεθνικών ιδιωτικών συµφερόντων καθώς σχεδιάζεται η ιδιωτικοποίησή του. Το θέµα είναι ιδιαίτερα σύνθετο τόσο περιβαλλοντικά όσο κοινωνικά και τέλος οικονοµικά. Νοµοθετικά οι βάσεις για το ξεπούληµα µπήκαν µε µια σειρά από νόµους, (όπως και για όλες τις ∆ΕΚΟ) από το 1991 – 1992.
Την υλοποίηση για την ΕΥ∆ΑΠ ανέλαβε η κυβέρνηση Σηµίτη το 1999 µε το νόµο 2744/99.
Η ΕΥ∆ΑΠ µε βάση αυτό το νόµο, χωρίζεται σε δύο εταιρίες. Η µία η ιδιωτική ΕΥ∆ΑΠ Α.Ε που πήρε την εκµετάλλευση των δικτύων ύδρευσης – αποχέτευσης, τους βιολογικούς καθαρισµούς, την είσπραξη των λογαριασµών. Μπήκε στο χρηµατιστήριο µε το κράτος να κατέχει το 71% περίπου (61% σήµερα στο ΤΑΙΠΕ∆ αφού το 10% το είχε αγοράσει η δηµόσια τότε Αγροτική Τράπεζα και µετά η τράπεζα Πειραιώς ). Η άλλη αµιγώς δηµόσια ΕΥ∆ΑΠ ΠΑΓΙΩΝ έχει στην κυριότητα της, τις λίµνες, τα φράγµατα, τα εξωτερικά υδραγωγεία, και όλα τα έργα εξεύρεσης νέων πηγών.
Παράλληλα συστήνεται ‘Ρυθµιστική Αρχή Υδάτων’ κατά τα πρότυπα της Ρυθµιστικής Αρχής Ενέργειας ώστε να διευκολυνθεί κάθε ενέργεια ιδιωτικοποίησης των υδάτων σε όλη την επικράτεια, στα πλαίσια του ξεπουλήµατος του συνόλου του φυσικού πλούτου της Ελλάδας, και των επιχειρήσεων στρατηγικής σηµασίας.
Η ΑΝΤΙ∆ΡΑΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΙΚΗΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΒΟΥΛΙΑΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
Για πρώτη φορά στα ευρωπαϊκά δεδοµένα, η Ευρωπαϊκή Πρωτοβουλία Πολιτών κάνοντας καµπάνια µε τίτλο «Το νερό είναι ανθρώπινο δικαίωµα» (και βασικό σκεπτικό ότι το νερό είναι κοινωνικό αγαθό και άρα δεν πωλείται, δεν εµπορεύεται, δεν ιδιωτικοποιείται) συγκέντρωσε υπογραφές, προκειµένου να υποχρεώσει την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή να καθιερώσει νοµοθεσία για την προστασία του νερού ως ανθρώπινου δικαιώµατος. Σύµφωνα µε τις επιταγές της Ε.Ε., για να µπορέσει µια Ευρωπαϊκή Πρωτοβουλία Πολιτών να απευθύνει πρόσκληση προς την Κοµισιόν και να προτείνει νοµοθεσία για συγκεκριµένους τοµείς, πρέπει να υποστηρίζεται από τουλάχιστον ένα εκατοµµύριο πολίτες, που θα προέρχονται από τουλάχιστον 7 από τα 27 κράτη – µέλη, και µάλιστα σε καθένα από τα 7 κράτη – µέλη απαιτείται ένας ελάχιστος αριθµός υπογραφόντων.
Η πρόσκληση των Ευρωπαίων πολιτών να παραµείνει το νερό δηµόσιο αγαθό και να µην γίνει εµπόρευµα έχει φτάσει µέχρι σήµερα τις 1,5 εκατοµµύριο υπογραφές, ενώ το ελάχιστο όριο έχουν πιάσει 8 χώρες: Γερµανία, Βέλγιο, Αυστρία, Φινλανδία, Λιθουανία, Λουξεµβούργο, Σλοβακία και Σλοβενία, ενώ κοντά βρίσκονται Ελλάδα και Ιταλία. Στην Ελλάδα την έκκληση έχουν υπογράψει περίπου 11.560 πολίτες, αριθµός καθόλου ευκαταφρόνητος, εάν υπολογίσουµε ότι δεν έχουµε κουλτούρα συµµετοχής σε διαδικτυακές πρωτοβουλίες και συλλογής υπογραφών µέσω διαδικτύου.
Τι ζητούν οι πολίτες από την Κοµισιόν
Το κείµενο της έκκλησης, που είναι αναρτηµένο στην ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση http://www.right2water.eu/el, αναφέρει αναλυτικά:
«Το νερό είναι δηµόσιο αγαθό, όχι εµπόρευµα! Καλούµε την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή να προτείνει νοµοθεσία που να υλοποιεί το ανθρώπινο δικαίωµα πρόσβασης σε ύδρευση και αποχέτευση, το οποίο είναι αναγνωρισµένο από τον ΟΗΕ, και να προωθεί την παροχή ύδρευσης και αποχέτευσης ως απαραίτητων δηµόσιων υπηρεσιών για όλους. Η νοµοθεσία της Ε.Ε. πρέπει να απαιτήσει από τις κυβερνήσεις να εξασφαλίζουν και να παρέχουν σε όλους τους πολίτες πρόσβαση σε επαρκή ποσότητα καθαρού, πόσιµου νερού και σε δίκτυο αποχέτευσης. Προτείνουµε:
Τα θεσµικά όργανα και τα κράτη – µέλη της Ε.Ε. να είναι υποχρεωµένα να εξασφαλίζουν ύδρευση και αποχέτευση για όλους τους πολίτες.
Η υδροδότηση και η διαχείριση των υδάτινων πόρων να αψηφούν τους «κανόνες της εσωτερικής αγοράς» και να απαγορεύεται η απελευθέρωση της αγοράς των υπηρεσιών ύδρευσης.
Η Ε.Ε. να εντείνει τις προσπάθειές της για να έχουν όλοι πρόσβαση σε ύδρευση και αποχέτευση».
Επισηµαίνεται ότι, βάσει της θεσµοθετηµένης διαδικασίας, η Κοµισιόν, µόλις λήξει και τυπικά η συλλογή υπογραφών, θα πρέπει να κάνει τα εξής βήµατα:
Να συναντηθεί µε τους διοργανωτές προκειµένου να τους εξηγήσει λεπτοµερώς τα θέµατα που θίγει η πρωτοβουλία τους.
Οι διοργανωτές να παρουσιάσουν την πρωτοβουλία τους σε δηµόσια ακρόαση στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο.
Η Επιτροπή να απαντήσει επίσηµα και να αναφέρει τις ενέργειες που θα προτείνει ανταποκρινόµενη στην πρωτοβουλία πολιτών, εφόσον προτείνει ενέργειες, καθώς και τους λόγους που την οδήγησαν στην απόφαση αυτή.
Η απάντηση αυτή, η οποία θα έχει µορφή ανακοίνωσης, θα εκδοθεί επίσηµα από το σώµα των επιτρόπων και θα δηµοσιευθεί σε όλες τις επίσηµες γλώσσες της Ε.Ε.
ΚΑΙ ΤΩΡΑ;
Όλα αυτά ακούγονται τροµερά, επειδή είναι τροµερά. Ξέρουµε τι χρειάζεται για να σώσουµε το νερό στον κόσµο: αποκατάσταση των λεηλατηµένων οικοσυστηµάτων νερού, αντικατάσταση της άρδευσης διά καταιονήσεως µε τη µέθοδο της άρδευσης µε σταγόνες, επισκευές στις υποδοµές, ριζοσπαστικές αλλαγές στις µεθόδους παραγωγής και στη διαχείριση των λεκανών απορροής, για να αναφέρουµε ορισµένα παραδείγµατα.
Ωστόσο τίποτα από αυτά δεν πρόκειται να συµβεί, µέχρι η ανθρωπότητα να εξασφαλίσει ότι κάθε εταιρία ή κυβέρνηση που τολµά να ρυπαίνει το νερό θα υποστεί τις συνέπειες της νοµοθεσίας – τοπικής, εθνικής, διεθνούς. Εάν επιτρέψουµε την εµπορευµατοποίηση των αποθεµάτων γλυκών υδάτων του πλανήτη, θα χάσουµε τη δυνατότητα αποτροπής της επερχόµενης κρίσης. Θα επιτρέψουµε την ανάδυση µιας ελίτ νερού, που θα καθορίζει το µέλλον του παγκοσµίως µε βάση τα δικά της συµφέροντα. Εάν συµβεί κάτι τέτοιο, το νερό θα πηγαίνει σε εκείνους που θα έχουν τη δυνατότητα να το πληρώσουν και όχι σε εκείνους που θα το χρειάζονται.
Η εµπορευµατοποίηση του νερού είναι ηθικά, περιβαλλοντικά και κοινωνικά µεγάλος κίνδυνος . Αν οι αποφάσεις που αφορούν τον καταµερισµό του νερού στηρίζονται σε εµπορικές εκτιµήσεις, δεν θα έχουν καµία σχέση µε το περιβάλλον και την κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη. Η ιδιωτικοποίηση συνεπάγεται ότι η διαχείριση των υδάτινων πόρων θα βασίζεται σε αρχές που περιστρέφονται γύρω από τη λειψυδρία και τη µεγιστοποίηση του κέρδους και όχι τη µακροπρόθεσµη βιωσιµότητα. Οι εταιρίες βασίζονται στην αυξανόµενη κατανάλωση που θα αποφέρει κέρδη και είναι πολύ πιο πιθανό το ενδεχόµενο να επενδύσουν στη χρήση χηµικής τεχνολογίας, στο µάρκετινγκ και στο εµπόριο του νερού, παρά στην προστασία του.
Το νερό πρέπει να θεωρείται πάντοτε οικουµενικό κτήµα κάθε ανθρώπου. Σε έναν κόσµο όπου όλα ιδιωτικοποιούνται, οι πολίτες πρέπει να θέσουν σαφή όρια γύρω από τους τοµείς που είναι απαραίτητοι για τη ζωή και αναγκαίοι για την επιβίωση του πλανήτη. Οι κυβερνήσεις οφείλουν να διακηρύξουν ότι το νερό ανήκει στη γη και σε όλα τα είδη και αποτελεί θεµελιώδες ανθρώπινο δικαίωµα. Το νερό πρέπει να χαρακτηριστεί δηµόσιο κτήµα και όλες οι κυβερνήσεις πρέπει να θεσπίσουν νόµους για την προστασία των πόρων γλυκού ύδατος στην επικράτειά τους.
Αν κάποιος νιώσει ανακουφισµένος από τις παγκόσµιες εξελίξεις στο χώρο του νερού, µάλλον πρέπει να σκεφτεί µερικά πολύ απλά πράγµατα. Μια σκέψη απλή είναι η έξης: και τι έγινε αν αλλού το µοντέλο της ιδιωτικοποίησης απέτυχε;
Εδώ, στη χώρα που εξελίσσονται πειράµατα στη διεθνή πρακτική εξαθλίωσης µιας κοινωνίας, στη χώρα που οι µαύρες οθόνες αντικατέστησαν την εικόνα της τηλεοπτικής ενηµέρωσης, στη χώρα που το αυτονόητο αντικαταστάθηκε πλήρως µε την επιβολή ξένων αποφάσεων που ουδόλως σχετίζονται µε την Ελλάδα, τι µπορεί να εµποδίσει την ανατροπή στα εκτιµούµενα για τις εξελίξεις του χώρου του νερού; Εδώ που οι συντάξεις έπεσαν κατακόρυφα σε επίπεδα µη αξιοπρεπούς διαβίωσης, οι µισθοί άγγιξαν τα όρια, που η φαντασία αδυνατούσε να προσεγγίσει µόλις κάποια χρόνια πριν, τι µπορεί να εµποδίσει τους πατριδοκάπηλους να αιφνιδιάσουν ακόµα και στο χώρο του νερού, µετατρέποντας το προϊόν της επιβίωσης σε ελιτίστικο προνόµιο;
Κυρίαρχο και αγωνιώδες παραµένει το ερώτηµα, που µας αφορά όλους.
Γιατί δεν αντιδρούµε;
Γιατί δεν υπάρχουµε, να γίνει ο θυµός µας τσουνάµι, που θα παρασύρει όλα τα παραπήγµατα και τις αυλές τους;
Γιατί δεν ενώνουµε τις άναρθρες κραυγούλες, τους µικρούς ψιθύρους οργής σε συντονισµένες φωνές που θα γίνουν κραυγές και θα ακουστούν έξω από τα ξεφτισµένα και αφύλακτα σύνορα τούτης της πατρίδας;
Χωρίς κανένα ηθικό ενδοιασµό, χωρίς καµία ενοχή, ψυχρά, άψυχα σώµατα είµαστε έτοιµοι να παραδώσουµε ακόµα και τις εταιρείες νερού σε χέρια εµπόρων, που ενδιαφέρονται µόνο για την κερδοσκοπία.
Πόσο ανίκανος είσαι αν δεν µπορείς καν να γεννήσεις µια επιχειρηµατική ιδέα, αν δεν µπορείς να δηµιουργήσεις επιχειρηµατικές δράσεις, που να συνεισφέρουν στην επίλυση του προβλήµατος της ανεργίας και της κίνησης κεφαλαίων;
Γιατί να ξεπουλήσεις µια εταιρεία που εξυπηρετεί δηµόσια συµφέροντα και δεν δαπανάς τις σκέψεις, τις ιδέες, τον χρόνο, το χρήµα σε ανάπτυξη νέων εταιρειών που θα βασίζονται στην αγορά δράσεων µετά την κάλυψη της βασικής ανάγκης διάθεσης πόσιµου νερού;..
Γιατί κανείς δεν µιλάει για την επίλυση των ουσιαστικών προβληµάτων που οδήγησαν στην πιθανότητα πώλησης των εταιρειών νερού;
Αυτοί οι ίδιοι που σήµερα διαπραγµατεύονται την ιδιωτικοποίηση, οι ίδιοι υπηρετούν µηχανισµούς που γέννησαν όλα τα προβλήµατα στις εταιρείες αυτές.
Πολιτικά ορισµένες ηγεσίες, χωρίς ουσιαστικές και υπεύθυνες δεσµεύσεις στα αποτελέσµατα, που εντάσσονται µε ευκολία στις εσωτερικές αυλές, ροκανίζοντας και αυτοί µε τη σειρά τους τα καλούδια, που προσκόµιζαν οι εισπρακτικοί µηχανισµοί.
Ποιος θα είναι ο χαµένος; Φυσικά ο ελεύθερος άνθρωπος, ο µη συναλλασσόµενος, ο µη ενταγµένος σε µηχανισµούς και αλισβερίσια.
Σήµερα πολλοί ανησυχούν για τις επερχόµενες ιδιωτικοποιήσεις των εταιρειών του νερού. Στην Ευρώπη έχουν συγκεντρωθεί 1,5 εκ. υπογραφές αντίδρασης, στην Ελλάδα 25.000. Τι εµποδίζει τους ‘Έλληνες να υπογράψουν αυτές τις λίστες;
Τι φοβίζει τον κόσµο για το αύριο; Μήπως η αγωνία της πραγµατοποίησης των κινδύνων της ιδιωτικοποίησης των εταιρειών νερού και η µετατροπή του νερού, από βασικό αγαθό, προσιτό στις πλειοψηφίες, σε είδος µη ποιοτικό και ακριβό;
Μοίρα µας είναι η θέλησή µας. Ποια είναι όµως η θέλησή µας και κυρίως πώς αυτή εκφράζεται, πώς συγκροτείται σε άποψη, σε αντίδραση, σε δράση, σε προληπτική ενέργεια, σε αδιάλλακτη φύλαξη των κεκτηµένων;
Μήπως από καιρό είχαµε αφεθεί στην κουλτούρα της παράδοσης στους άλλους των ζωτικών τοµέων της πατρίδας, χωρίς αντιστάσεις, χωρίς ενότητα, χωρίς συναίσθηµα;
Mήπως δεν αντιλαµβανόµαστε τους κινδύνους από το άνοιγµα της κερκόπορτας;
Μήπως είµαστε συνένοχοι και όχι θύµατα των µεταβολών που συντελούνται στην οικονοµία της χώρας µας και σκορπίζουν παντού εικόνες βαρυχειµωνιάς και εγκατάλειψης;
Μήπως; Μήπως; Μήπως;;
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