Understanding the Global Mistreatment of People of Color and Indigenous Peoples

Introduction

Across many parts of the world, people of color and Indigenous communities face discrimination, inequality, and violence. In many cultures, people with darker skin are treated worse than those with lighter skin. These patterns are not caused by something inherent in “light-skinned people” or “dark-skinned people,” but by centuries of colonization, power structures, economic exploitation, and color-based social hierarchies that still influence societies today.

This report explores why these systems developed, how they persist, and why darker skin has been linked to lower status in many cultures.

1. Historical Foundations of Global Mistreatment

1.1 The Impact of Colonialism

European colonial powers controlled large parts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania for centuries. During this period:

• Colonizers viewed Indigenous and darker-skinned people as “less civilized.”

• Racist ideologies were created to justify taking land, resources, and labor.

• Skin color became a marker of power: lighter meant authority; darker meant subjugation.

These ideas were enforced through education, laws, religion, and violence. Even after independence, many societies retained these social hierarchies.

1.2 The Transatlantic Slave Trade

The forced enslavement of African people required dehumanizing them. Slaveholders created racial ideologies that claimed dark-skinned people were inferior to justify brutality and exploitation. These ideologies spread globally and still influence today’s attitudes.

1.3 Dispossession of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous populations around the world—from the Americas to Australia to Asia—were often treated as obstacles to land expansion. Colonizers:

• Took land without consent

• Erased cultures and languages

• Forced assimilation

• Spread disease and warfare

These injustices were justified using racist beliefs that Indigenous cultures were “primitive.”

2. Colorism: Discrimination Based on Skin Tone

Colorism is the bias toward lighter skin within and between racial and ethnic groups. It exists worldwide, not only in white-majority societies.

Examples:

• South Asia: Fair skin is associated with beauty and higher marriage prospects.

• Latin America: Lighter-skinned people often have better job opportunities.

• East Asia: Long histories of class-based skin distinctions (indoors vs. outdoors labor).

• Africa and the Caribbean: Colonial-era beauty standards still shape preferences.

Colorism shows that the issue is not simply “light people vs. dark people” but systems that reward proximity to lightness because of historical power and class dynamics.

3. Why Darker Skin Is Often Treated Worse Across Cultures

3.1 Association With Labor and Poverty

In many agricultural societies, darker skin was linked to outdoor labor and lower classes. Over time, “lighter skin = higher status” became embedded culturally.

3.2 Global Spread of Western Beauty Standards

Through colonial rule, Hollywood, advertising, and media, Eurocentric features and lighter skin were promoted as the standard of beauty, intelligence, and success.

3.3 Economic and Political Power

Historically, groups with lighter skin often held more political and economic power, creating a system where their characteristics were seen as superior.

3.4 Internalized Racism

Centuries of oppression lead communities to adopt biased standards toward themselves—an effect of colonial trauma, not a natural preference.

3.5 Modern Systems Reinforce the Bias

• Employment discrimination

• Unequal policing

• Housing segregation

• Lack of representation

• Stereotypes in media

These continue to disproportionately harm darker-skinned and Indigenous peoples.

4. Mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous communities around the world continue to face similar patterns:

• Land theft and resource extraction

• Marginalization in political systems

• Environmental racism

• Destruction or appropriation of culture

• Higher levels of poverty and violence

These issues are tied to ongoing colonial systems, not inherent behavior of any skin-color group.

5. This Is About Systems, Not Individuals

It is crucial to understand that:

• Light-skinned people are not biologically predisposed to mistreat others.

• Dark-skinned and Indigenous people are not mistreated because of their skin itself, but because of systems built around skin-based hierarchies.

The real drivers are:

• Power structures

• Colonial histories

• Economic inequality

• Cultural conditioning

• Institutional biases

Recognizing systemic causes allows for solutions that address the root of the problem rather than blaming entire groups of people.

6. Paths Toward Change

6.1 Education and Historical Truth

Teaching accurate history helps dismantle racist and colorist beliefs.

6.2 Representation in Media

Positive, diverse visibility helps redefine beauty, power, and value.

6.3 Policy Reforms

Laws addressing policing, land rights, education, and economic inequality are critical for Indigenous and marginalized communities.

6.4 Cultural Revitalization

Supporting Indigenous languages, traditions, and sovereignty helps restore dignity and identity.

Conclusion

The widespread mistreatment of people of color and Indigenous peoples is not the result of biological differences between humans. It is the outcome of centuries of colonization, forced labor, racial ideology, and power structures that privileged lighter-skinned groups and oppressed darker-skinned and Indigenous populations.

These systems created a global pattern where darker skin came to be unfairly associated with lower status. Understanding these historical and systemic roots is essential to dismantling them and building a more just world.

Why Indigenous Peoples Are Disproportionately Killed: 

Across the world, Indigenous peoples face disproportionately high levels of violence, murder, and human rights violations. This is not because of who they are, but because of historical and ongoing systems of inequality, discrimination, and conflict over land, resources, and rights. Understanding the root causes is essential for addressing the issue and preventing further harm.

1. Historical Background of Colonization

For centuries, Indigenous peoples have lived on lands that later became targets for colonization. When European settlers arrived in the Americas, Africa, Australia, and Asia, Indigenous communities were often viewed as obstacles to expansion.

Key factors:

• Land seizure: Colonizers wanted Indigenous lands for agriculture, mining, settlement, and resource extraction.

• Dehumanization: Indigenous peoples were falsely labeled as “primitive” to justify violence and displacement.

• Forced cultural erasure: Many communities faced forced assimilation, removal, boarding schools, and policies that weakened their social structures.

This historical violence set the stage for modern injustices.

2. Ongoing Land Conflicts

Today, many Indigenous communities continue to live on resource-rich lands. Governments and corporations often seek these areas for:

• mining

• oil pipelines

• logging

• agriculture

• water access

When Indigenous groups defend their territory, they frequently face threats, violent attacks, or assassination by state forces, militias, or private security groups.

Examples:

• Environmental defenders in the Amazon are murdered at some of the highest rates in the world.

• Water protectors opposing pipelines in North America face intimidation and militarized policing.

3. Systemic Racism and Discrimination

Indigenous peoples frequently experience:

• racial profiling

• lack of legal protection

• biased policing

• unequal justice systems

These systems often fail to investigate disappearances or murders of Indigenous people. In many countries, cases involving Indigenous victims receive far less attention or resources.

Impact:

• Higher murder rates

• Lower prosecution rates for perpetrators

• Increased vulnerability, especially for women and girls

4. Economic Marginalization and Social Inequality

Indigenous communities often lack access to:

• quality healthcare

• economic opportunities

• housing

• education

This marginalization creates environments where violence is more likely, and where victims have fewer protections.

Example:

In countries like Canada and the U.S., Indigenous women are murdered or go missing at rates many times higher than non-Indigenous women—a crisis known as MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls).

5. Political Power Imbalances

In many nations, Indigenous peoples:

• make up a small percentage of the population

• lack representation in government

• have their rights frequently ignored

When a group lacks political power, their communities become easier targets for:

• land dispossession

• violent suppression

• neglect by law enforcement

6. Cultural Threat Perception

Indigenous resistance is often rooted in protecting:

• land

• culture

• water

• community survival

However, governments or corporations may treat Indigenous resistance as a threat to economic or political interests.

This leads to:

• militarized responses

• criminalization of activists

• violence against community leaders

7. Gender-Specific Violence

Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit/LGBTQ+ people face extreme levels of violence due to:

• colonial legacies of gendered oppression

• racism

• human trafficking

• lack of police response

Violence against Indigenous women is often ignored or under-reported, reinforcing the cycle.

Conclusion

Indigenous peoples are not killed because of who they are, but because of systemic structures of power, inequality, and historical violence that continue into the present. These deaths stem from:

• land disputes

• racism

• political and economic exclusion

• lack of justice

• continued colonial attitudes

Addressing these issues requires:

• protecting Indigenous land rights

• enforcing justice and accountability

• supporting Indigenous self-governance

• educating societies about Indigenous histories and contributions

What Is 3D-Printed Chicken?

3D-printed chicken refers to chicken meat created using 3D-printing technology, usually from:

• Cultivated (lab-grown) chicken cells

• Plant-based proteins (soy, pea, wheat, mycoprotein)

• Hybrid blends (real animal cells + plant proteins)

The printer deposits edible “bio-ink” layer-by-layer to create the texture of whole-cut chicken like fillets, tenders, or nuggets.

🧪 How It’s Made

1. Cell or protein preparation

   • Cultivated chicken: real chicken cells grown in bioreactors

   • Plant-based: proteins mixed into a paste

2. “Bio-ink” formation
   The prepared material is turned into a printable paste with fats, fibers, and flavorings.

3. 3D printing
   A food-grade extruder lays material down in patterns that mimic muscle fibers.

4. Cooking or finishing
   The printed chicken is baked, grilled, or cooked with lasers by some experimental printers.

🍗 Why Do This?

• More realistic texture than typical plant-based nuggets

• Sustainable: lower water and land use

• Customizable nutrition (fat %, salt, protein content)

• Scalable production for consistent quality

🌍 Who’s Making It?

Several companies are actively developing 3D-printed chicken:

• Redefine Meat (Israel) – plant-based whole cuts

• Novameat (Spain) – 3D-printed fibrous meat analogs

• GOOD Meat + Eat Just – cultivated chicken (not always printed, but related tech)

• SavorEat – automated restaurant printing stations

🔥 Can You Make 3D-Printed Chicken at Home?

Not easily yet, but you can:

• Buy a food-safe 3D printer (like Foodini or Choc Creator)

• Print plant-based chicken paste or your own protein gel

Most consumer food printers are limited to purées, doughs, or chocolate, but the tech is improving.

🎨 Want Me to Design Something for You?

I can generate:

• A recipe for printable chicken paste

• A 3D-printable model for chicken shapes

• A step-by-step guide to printing plant-based chicken at home

• A visual concept art image (just ask!)

What would you like to do with 3D-printed chicken?

Talmud Believers: Identity, Tradition, and Interpretive Authority in Rabbinic Judaism

The term “Talmud believers” is not a formal religious designation, yet it usefully describes the central role the Talmud plays for Jews who regard Rabbinic tradition as authoritative. This paper explores the concept by analyzing (1) the historical development of the Talmud, (2) the communities that treat the Talmud as binding, (3) the meaning of belief in a text within Judaism, (4) the Talmud’s place in shaping Jewish law (Halakhah) and worldview, and (5) modern debates surrounding authority, interpretation, and identity. The goal is to clarify how and why the Talmud functions as a foundational text for millions of Jews, and how “believing in the Talmud” differs from belief in a sacred text in other religious systems.

1. Introduction

Within Judaism, identity is not normally defined by belief in a single book. Rather, Judaism centers on a shared covenant, communal practice, and a chain of interpretive tradition. Still, the Talmud—the compilation of the Mishnah (ca. 200 CE) and the Gemara (ca. 500–600 CE)—became the most authoritative guide for Jewish life for nearly 1,500 years. Although Jews do not typically describe themselves as “Talmud believers,” the vast majority of Jewish law and practice is derived from Talmudic reasoning.

This paper therefore adopts the phrase “Talmud believers” to mean:

Individuals or communities within Judaism who regard the Talmud as an authoritative source for religious law, moral reasoning, and communal life.

This includes traditional Orthodox Jews, many Conservative Jews, and scholars and students within Rabbinic Judaism broadly.

2. The Development of the Talmud as an Authoritative Text

2.1 The Mishnah

Compiled by Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi around 200 CE, the Mishnah systematized earlier oral traditions. Its authority came not from a claim of divine inspiration, but from its acceptance as a summary of normative rabbinic law.

2.2 The Gemara

The Gemara—developed in both Babylonia and the Land of Israel—comments on the Mishnah, debates its meaning, and expands on legal and theological issues. The Babylonian Talmud, in particular, became the primary legal reference for subsequent generations.

2.3 Canonization Through Practice

Unlike the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud was never formally “canonized.” Rather, its authority emerged through:

• continuous study

• legal reliance

• commentary traditions

• community enforcement

Thus, “belief” in the Talmud developed organically as Jewish communities accepted its legal reasoning as binding.

3. What It Means to Be a “Talmud Believer”

3.1 Judaism’s Different Model of Belief

Judaism generally emphasizes practice over dogma. Unlike Christianity and Islam—which have doctrinal statements about belief—Judaism evaluates commitment through:

• observance of mitzvot (commandments)

• engagement in study

• adherence to Halakhah

Therefore, “believing” in the Talmud is primarily functional, not creedal. It means accepting the rabbinic interpretive model that determines how commandments are understood.

3.2 The Talmud as Interpretive Authority

For most traditional Jews, the Talmud is not simply an ancient book; it is:

• a legal system

• a moral philosophy

• a method of reasoning

• a living tradition carried forward by commentators

Thus, Talmud believers are not merely accepting text but participating in a continuous interpretive process.

4. Communities of Talmud Believers

4.1 Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Jews most fully embody the concept. They regard Talmudic reasoning as binding and treat later legal authorities (Rishonim and Acharonim) as extensions of the Talmudic tradition.

4.2 Conservative Judaism

Conservative Jews affirm the Talmud’s authority but embrace historical-critical scholarship and reinterpretation through the Rabbinical Assembly’s legal decisions.

4.3 Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism

Reform and Reconstructionist movements do not consider the Talmud binding, though they value it as a cultural and historical text. They would not fit the category of “Talmud believers.”

4.4 Non-Jewish Students of the Talmud

Academics, historians, and interfaith scholars often study the Talmud without seeing it as authoritative. They are not “believers” in a religious sense but contribute meaningfully to Talmudic understanding.

5. The Talmud’s Role in Daily Life and Law

5.1 Halakhah (Jewish Law)

Virtually all Halakhic rulings—from Sabbath observance to commercial law to marriage—trace their roots to Talmudic discussions.

5.2 Ethics and Philosophy

The Talmud offers:

• moral debates

• discussions of justice

• reflections on suffering, the afterlife, and human dignity

These shape Jewish ethics to this day.

5.3 Cultural Identity

For many Jews, participation in Talmud study (e.g., Daf Yomi) symbolizes connection to ancestral tradition. For such individuals, “belief” is expressed through lifelong study and dialogue.

6. Misconceptions About Talmudic Belief

6.1 “The Talmud replaces the Bible” — false

Jews view the Talmud as interpretation, not replacement.

6.2 “The Talmud is a book of secret doctrines” — false

It is a public legal and moral discourse, not esoteric mysticism.

6.3 “Talmud believers worship the Talmud” — false

Jews do not worship books. Study is an act of covenantal responsibility, not object-veneration.

7. Contemporary Debates

7.1 Modernity vs. Tradition

Issues include:

• gender roles

• LGBTQ+ inclusion

• technological ethics

• scientific knowledge

Debates revolve around whether Talmudic legal methods can adapt to modern realities.

7.2 Historical-Critical Scholarship

Many scholars view portions of the Talmud as products of their time. Orthodox communities reject this approach as undermining authority, while Conservative Judaism integrates historical analysis into legal interpretation.

8. Conclusion

The category of “Talmud believers,” though informal, captures a large segment of Jewry that treats the Talmud not only as a sacred text but as a living legal and ethical tradition. Their relationship to the Talmud is not defined by blind faith but by interpretation, communal continuity, and covenantal responsibility. Understanding this dynamic clarifies both the power of the Talmud in Jewish life and the diversity of approaches across different Jewish communities.

If you want to evaluate whether these individuals act in a godly manner, you may consult the teachings referenced in the Talmud passages linked below:

 https://www.sefaria.org/Yevamot.59b.6?lang=bi

https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.54a.30?lang=bi

4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.  

10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

Shahid Bolsen dismantles the sudden “expertise” around Sudan and the scripted smear of the GCC—especially the UAE. He lays out how narrative factories redirect anger toward Muslim governments, erase Sudanese agency, and sabotage Arab-African cohesion. The monologue tracks RSF’s long roots inside Sudan, the economics of illicit gold, the broken incentives of Western outrage cycles, and why real outcomes will come from regional negotiation—not imported scripts. It ends with a warning: America’s system is propped up like a body on a staff—it looks upright until it collapses.

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century is a 2017 book by historian Timothy Snyder that examines the rise of authoritarianism in the 20th century and applies those lessons to the modern political landscape. Snyder draws on his expertise in Eastern European history and the rise of totalitarian regimes like Nazism and communism to provide a guide for citizens on how to identify and resist creeping authoritarianism.

Key themes and lessons

The book presents 20 specific lessons derived from 20th-century history to help readers recognize and resist tyranny. The lessons are intended to be a practical "call to arms" for preserving freedom in modern democracies. Some key lessons include:

Defend institutions: Institutions like courts, newspapers, and unions do not protect themselves; they must be actively defended by citizens.

Beware the one-party state: Snyder warns against the normalization of a single-party rule and advocates for supporting democratic elections and a multi-party system.

Be kind to our language: He encourages readers to be deliberate in their speech and to avoid the empty cliches and slogans of mass politics.

Believe in truth: Tyrants undermine facts to control reality. Snyder argues that abandoning facts is abandoning freedom.

Investigate: Readers are encouraged to seek out information for themselves, support investigative journalism, and be wary of online disinformation.

Beware of paramilitaries: Snyder warns against the intermingling of pro-leader paramilitaries with official police and military, viewing it as a sign of imminent collapse.

Be a patriot: He differentiates patriotism from nationalism, explaining that patriotism is based on principles and ideals, not just blind loyalty.

Recent updates and graphic edition

Since its initial publication, Snyder has revisited the book and its lessons in the context of more recent events, including the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and the war in Ukraine.

A graphic edition of the book was published in 2021, featuring illustrations by renowned artist Nora Krug. This edition was created to offer a visually striking and accessible rumination on Snyder's historical references.

In this searing Shahid Bolsen monologue, “Victim” exposes the moral and intellectual decay of the West — a civilization suffering from centuries of ideological inbreeding and spiritual malnourishment.

Bill Cooper, former United States Naval Intelligence Briefing Team member, reveals information that remains hidden from the public eye. This information has been kept in Top Secret government files since the 1940s. His audiences hear the truth unfold as he writes about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the war on drugs, the Secret Government and UFOs. Bill is a lucid, rational and powerful speaker who intent is to inform and to empower his audience. Standing room only is normal. His presentation and information transcend partisan affiliations as he clearly addresses issues in a way that has a striking impact on listeners of all backgrounds and interests. He has spoken to many groups throughout the United States and has appeared regularly on many radio talk shows and on television. In 1988 Bill decided to "talk" due to events then taking place worldwide, events which he had seen plans for back in the early '70s. Since Bill has been "talking," he has correctly predicted the lowering of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the invasion of Panama. All Bill's predictions were on record well before the events occurred. Bill is not a psychic. His information comes from Top Secret documents that he read while with the Intelligence Briefing Team and from over 17 years of thorough research.

Behold a Pale Horse Chapter Summaries by rwtrimiew

The association arises from a 1991 video titled The Lazar Tape... and Excerpts from the Government Bible. In this video, Lazar claims to have read classified documents while working at the secret S-4 facility near Area 51. He alleges that these documents contained startling information about human history and religious origins that would challenge and potentially destabilize established religious beliefs.

                                      Image liked in the Movie Avatar:

Lazar's claims about the secret "government bible" include the following:

Humans are "containers": He alleged that the documents referred to humans as "containers" for something more, like souls or consciousness, from the alien perspective.

Alien involvement in human history: He claimed the documents discussed alien involvement in human affairs over the past 10,000 years.

Challenging religious views: Lazar suggested the information in the documents was sensitive because it could completely upend humanity's understanding of its own origins and religion.

Reliability of Lazar's claims

It is important to note that Lazar's testimony is considered a conspiracy theory and has been widely discredited by scientists and skeptics. The following points raise serious questions about his credibility:

Unverifiable credentials: Lazar claims to have master's degrees from MIT and Caltech, but there is no record of him attending either university.

No evidence of employment: Official records do not support his claims of employment at Los Alamos National Laboratory or the secret facilities near Area 51.

Element 115 discrepancy: While he famously mentioned Element 115 in 1989 before it was artificially created, the stable version he claimed aliens used does not match the highly unstable element later synthesized by scientists.

Robert Scott Lazar (/ləˈzɑːr/) is an American conspiracy theorist. In 1989, Lazar claimed to have been part of a classified US government project concerned with the reverse engineering of extraterrestrial technology; he also purported to have read government briefing documents that described alien involvement in human affairs over the past 10,000 years. A self-proclaimed physicist, Lazar supposedly worked at a secret site near the United States Air Force facility popularly known as Area 51. His story brought additional public attention to the facility and spawned conspiracy theories regarding government knowledge of extraterrestrial life.

Lazar has provided no evidence of alien life or technology, and his claims about his education and employment history are replete with fabrications. Lazar also has several criminal convictions: he was convicted in 1990 for his involvement in a prostitution ring, and again in 2006 for selling illegal chemicals. As well as being dismissed by skeptics, Lazar has been denounced by some ufologists.

Since 1989, Lazar has achieved public notoriety as an Area 51 conspiracy theorist. In May of that year, he appeared in an interview with investigative reporter George Knapp on Las Vegas TV station KLAS, under the pseudonym "Dennis" and with his face hidden, to discuss his purported employment at "S-4", a subsidiary facility he claimed exists near the Nellis Air Force Base installation known as Area 51. 

Lazar said that his job was to help with the reverse engineering of one of nine flying saucers, which he alleged were extraterrestrial in origin. He claims one of the flying saucers, the one he coined the "Sport Model", was manufactured out of a metallic substance similar in appearance and touch to liquid titanium.

In a subsequent interview that November, Lazar appeared unmasked and under his own name, where he claimed that his job interview for work at the facility was with contractor EG&G and that his employer was the United States Navy. EG&G stated it had no records on him. His supposed employment at a Nellis Air Force Base subsidiary has also been discredited by skeptics, as well as by the United States Air Force.

Lazar has claimed that the studied vehicle was fueled by the chemical element with atomic number 115 (E115), which had not yet been artificially created. E115 was first synthesized in 2003 and later named moscovium. Lazar said that the propulsion system relied on a stable isotope of E115. No stable isotopes of moscovium have yet been synthesized. All have proven extremely radioactive, decaying in a few hundred milliseconds.

An Area 51 gate

Lazar alleges that his employment and education records have been erased, an allegation that Friedman, Prothero and author Timothy D. Callahan consider implausible. His story has drawn significant media attention, controversy, supporters, and detractors. Lazar has presented no actual evidence of alien life or technology.

Lazar owns and operates United Nuclear Scientific Equipment and Supplies, a company that sells a variety of materials and chemicals. In 2017, Lazar's workplace was raided by the FBI and local police. The raid was reported as part of a murder investigation (in which Lazar is not listed as a suspect) to determine if United Nuclear sold thallium to a murder suspect in Michigan.

Criminal convictions

In 1990, Lazar was arrested for aiding and abetting a prostitution ring. This was reduced to felony pandering, to which he pleaded guilty. He was ordered to do 150 hours of community service, stay away from brothels, and undergo psychotherapy.

In 2006, Lazar and his wife were charged with violating the Federal Hazardous Substances Act for shipping restricted chemicals across state lines. The charges stemmed from a 2003 raid on United Nuclear's business offices, where chemical sales records were examined. United Nuclear pleaded guilty to three criminal counts of introducing into interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting the introduction into interstate commerce, of banned hazardous substances. In 2007, United Nuclear was fined $7,500 for violating a law prohibiting the sale of chemicals and components used to make illegal fireworks.

Journalist Stephen Rodrick and author Neil Nixon write that further doubts have been cast on Lazar's credibility due to his criminal activity.