Writer and activist gives science lecture

PALMER -- Local best-selling author and independent researcher Dr. Nick Begich gave a lecture on "Technologies of the 21st Century" Friday evening at the Palmer Train Depot.

Though Begich makes his home in Chickaloon, he has not lectured in Palmer for close to seven years. He currently acts as both the city planner for Chickaloon Village and the chairman of Earthpulse Press Inc., a research, publishing and consulting organization. He has visited 22 countries and talked on more than 200 radio stations.

Begich is most famous for his book "Angels Don't Play This HAARP," in which he investigated the High Energy Active Aurora Research Project (HAARP) operating near Gakona.

Begich's investigation of the HAARP project involved the study of more than 4,000 military documents. These documents were used to formulate the history of the project, which Begich states was designed as a military nuclear deterrent and possible weapon. In his lecture, Begich outlined some of the potentially catastrophic effects of altering the planet's ionospheric layer, which is responsible for producing the aurora, in the same manner as the HAARP project.

Begich claims that, by altering the qualities of the ionosphere, complex energy patterns can be produced that interfere with the guidance systems of incoming missiles and other military equipment. This process, he said, could lead to the development of what he calls a "ground-based Star Wars project."

Key to all of Begich's points, however, was the increasing importance of technology in a constantly developing world. "You can plug into the world's brain now with technology that wasn't even around 10 years ago," he said. "And 20 years ago it was just a dream."

Begich stated that his overarching intention was to "try to get people to think about technology." In his mind, this is crucial, because "technology is moving forward, but people aren't really considering its implications."

Also central in Begich's lecture was the rapid development of futuristic technological weapons, which he claims will take warfare itself in entirely new directions.

"Where warfare has gone in the past is bombs, bullets, things that tear tissue," he said. "Where it's going is a different type of energy-based weapons system."

Begich discussed the possibility of using not only traditional weapons, but weather modification, ionospheric disturbances, and low frequency sound waves as tools of war. Begich believes that these increasing technological advances, instead of making the world safer, have wrought an increasingly vulnerable society, and the rise of such electronic crimes as viruses and identity theft is indicative of this change.

Nick Begich is the eldest son of the late United States Congressman from Alaska, Nick Begich Sr., and political activist Pegge Begich. His brother is Anchorage mayor Mark Begich. He was twice elected president of both the Alaska Federation of Teachers and the Anchorage Council of Education. Paranormal Radio calls him "a courageous visionary with a timely message," and his books have been read and discussed across the nation and in Europe.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.