On Oct. 4, Habitat for Humanity will join efforts around the world to mark World Habitat Day – a day the United Nations has set aside to call attention to the dire need for affordable, adequate housing. Liza Peiffer,’on behalf of Habitat Humanity has put together a microsite with facts, videos, photos, banners and even a way to submit your own photo to the World Habitat Day Photo Wall. She has requested that we post this link: See: http://worldhabitatdaynews.org

Note: Stuff News today reports: “Christian aid group Habitat for Humanity plans to recruit an army of tradesmen to rebuild the homes of uninsured Christchurch earthquake victims. The nonprofit group, which uses volunteer labour to build houses for families in need, hopes to assemble a workforce of more than 600 to complete the job, which could take up to 18 months……”

For full story see: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/canterbury-earthquake/4162730/Charity-to-rebuild-quake-victims-homes

Anti-abortion activists arrested over graphic banner

Anti-abortion activists are preparing to launch a landmark freedom of expression test case after they were arrested and held in police cells for 15 hours for refusing to take down placards showing graphic images of an aborted foetus.

For full story see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8010836/Anti-abortion-activists-arrested-over-graphic-banner.html

Article by Robert Mendick. Published: 18 Sep 2010

New Zealand Film and Television Awards dished out. Buy Hugh Sundae. 19 September 2010 NZ Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10674323

Best Arts/Festival/Feature Documentary
This Way of Life, Sumner Burstyn, Cloud South Films

“Shot over four years, This Way of Life is an intimate portrait of Peter Karena and his family…. In their early 30’s, Peter and Colleen have six kids and 50 horses. We follow them up into the Ruahine ranges and down to their hidden beach camp. Against these isolated backdrops we explore family relationships, their connection to nature, their keen survival skills and their absolute intimacy with each other and their horses…. Regardless of their hardships, the Karenas manage to never lose sight of the magic in the everyday…. [They] unite their philosophy with their circumstances, turning hardship into a meaningful and satisfying life.”

Trailer: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/this-way-of-life/trailer

The Society (SPCS) commends this as a truly great film that explores and celebrates admiral spiritual values being pursued by a loving family in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Wonderful scenery. This film was a huge success when screened at the Berlin Film festival receiving spontaneous, enthusiastic heart-felt standing ovations at every screening.

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On Saturday morning 18 September Kim Hill interviewed Baroness O’Neill about the Sense About Science Charity – an independent charitable trust promoting good science and evidence in public debates. It does this:

“… by promoting respect for evidence and by urging scientists to engage actively with a wide range of groups, particularly when debates are controversial or difficult.”

Like the SPCS it seeks to promote public debate in controversial or difficult areas relating to standards.

The Baroness will deliver the inaugural Royal Society Aronui Lecture Series in Auckland (15 & 17 September), Hamilton (16 September), Palmerston North (20 September), Wellington (21 September), Christchurch (22 September), and Dunedin (23 September).

The Sense About Science Charity of which she is on the Board of Trustees, works with scientists to

• respond to inaccuracies in public claims about science, medicine, and technology
• promote the benefits of scientific research to the public
• help those who need expert help contact scientists about issues of importance
• brief non-specialists on scientific developments and practices

http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/about/6/

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NZ Herald 19/09/2010, By Celeste Gorrell Anstiss and Frances Morton

Television’s watchdog will tomorrow slam the broadcast of explicit content in a show watched by children, as it lays out a new hardline stance against sex on screen.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority is expected to rule against TV3 for screening steamy content on Home and Away, a usually innocuous Australian soap……

Family First [a well-respected registered charity] national director Bob McCoskrie has two complaints pending with the BSA, against a segment on porn that screened on TVNZ’s Close Up, and a report about naked rugby on TV3′s Nightline.

McCoskrie said there was a disturbing trend towards sexualising the news.

“You sit down and expect to get the facts of the day but instead we get full-frontal nudity and sex talk. It’s a joke,” he said.

Full report: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10674514

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Institute of Directors welcomes law review by Hamish Rutherford. Dom Post. Business section C1. Sept. 16, 2010. C1

The Institute of Directors says it is not fazed by new powers being proposed for the new financial super regulator and welcomes a comprehensive review of financial market laws.

Commerce Minister Simon Power tabled legislation in Parliament on Tuesday which would give the Financial Markets Authority, set to come into being next year, wide-ranging powers never available to the Securities Commission.

These include the ability to take action against directors they believe to have acted illegally in the name of public interest, as well as the power to seek search warrants to raid offices and seize documents.

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