STEVE CROW Makes a Boob of himself: Editorial – Manawatu Standard

February 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Editorial: by Michael Cummings – Editorial. Story Fairfax NZ News

OPINION: It’s just as well that pornographer Steve Crow seems immune to public embarrassment, otherwise the sad and shambolic affair that was his Boobs on Bike parade and Erotica Expo in Palmerston North might have really stung.

Friday’s parade – if it can be called that – resembled a bad Monty Python sketch, with Mr Crow scrambling to find some motorbikes (“I forgot to book the hog guys so we had to borrow some bikes”), delaying the scheduled start. When things finally got underway, one of the five bare-breasted women on show missed out on a lift from a black, menacing steed and had to instead settle for the back of a dainty pink scooter.

She probably felt silly (maybe even self-conscious?) until the convoy set off and she realised that there wasn’t actually anyone lining the streets to catch a glimpse of her wares.

As the riders dodged the metaphorical tumbleweed and the women waved at bemused elderly men walking home with their groceries, the human indignity of a parade with no spectators was palpable. It was about as seductive as a sock puppet show at a church gala.

While ticket sales to the expo in the Barber Hall were still being tallied, Mr Crow didn’t sound hopeful there would be enough public support to warrant a return to Palmerston North. With only a couple of dozen stalls this year – including one selling fudge and another promoting overseas holidays – it’s a fairly safe bet the Erotica Expo won’t be back any time soon. It’s a curious change in fortune for the event, which had hundreds of people lining the streets for the parade and many more visiting the expo when it first came to Palmerston North in 2005.

For more see:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/6483649/Editorial-Crow-makes-a-boob-of-himself [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pornography Tagged With: , , , ,

Bill to ban street prostitution – registered charities disagree on bill

February 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A bill aimed at clearing prostitutes off the streets in trouble spots around Auckland is stirring up debate among supporters and opponents.

Family First NZ, a registered charity with the Charities Commission headed by Trevor Garrett, has been urging families around New Zealand to make submissions supporting the zoning bill to the select committee, before the deadline passes on February 29, 2012. But ECPAT Child ALERT, also a registered charity with the Charities Commission, has been opposing the bill because it believes it would not solve the problem.

The Bill, which passed its first reading last September was drafted by the Manakau City Council in response to constant complaints from the community and retailers about negative activities of prostitutes in areas such as Hunter’s Corner and Manurewa.

The Auckland council has now picked up the bill, which bans street prostitutes in specified places in the city and gives police powers of arrest.

Family First NZ has been campaigning for a ban on street prostution and also residential brothels to be eventually extended to cover all areas of New Zealand.

For full article see: Cleaning up the streets: Is banning street prostitution the answer?

by Lavinia Ngatoke

Challenge Weekly. February 27, 2012. Vol. 70 Issue 6, p. 1.

Filed Under: Prostitution Tagged With: , , , , ,

Britain Launches War on Multiculturalism – Stonegate Institute

February 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The government says it will work to restore the Christian faith to the center of public life in Britain. This article from the Stonegate Institute is food for thought …………..

“We have even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run completely counter to our values. … I believe a genuinely liberal country… believes in certain values and actively promotes them.” — David Cameron

The British government has unveiled a new “integration strategy” designed to “champion a united British identity.”

The new policy will require immigrants seeking admission to live in the United Kingdom to learn English and adhere to “mainstream” British culture and values such as democracy and the rule of law.

The measures represent a continuation of recent efforts by the government to reverse decades of state-sponsored multicultural policies that have allowed Muslim immigrants to avoid integration and establish a parallel society in Britain.

The new strategy document titled “Creating the Conditions for Integration” was published on February 21 and states: “We will robustly challenge behaviors and views which run counter to our shared values such as democracy, rule of law, equality of opportunity and treatment, freedom of speech and the rights of all men and women to live free from persecution of any kind. We will marginalize and challenge extremists who seek to undermine our society and we will neither engage with nor fund such organizations.”

The document continues: “The long-term presence of a highly diverse population is generally an indicator of good integration and a strong sense that different people get on well. But this can be undermined and even reversed by a range of factors, for example if groups within the local community work and socialize separately.”

Among a series of other measures, the government says it will reform laws on immigration and settlement by increasing the requirements on those who want to settle in Britain. Those coming to the United Kingdom to work, study or marry will be required to demonstrate an ability to speak English, and those wishing to remain permanently or seek British citizenship will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of language and life within the United Kingdom.

The new strategy also promotes the teaching of British history and culture in schools and encourages the flying of flags in public places. In addition, the government says it will work to restore the Christian faith to the center of public life in Britain.

For full article by Soeren Kern dated February 24, 2012  go to: http://www.stonegateinstitute.org/2876/britain-multiculturalism

Filed Under: Celebrating Christian Tradition, Moral Values Tagged With: ,

ASH New Zealand Inc. – an effective charity active in political advocacy

February 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

ASH New Zealand Inc. is an incorporated society, a lobby group, and a registered charity with the Charities Commission (CC31354). ASH was registered as a charity on 30 June 2008.

Its stated “Mission” is “to improve the health and well being of all New Zealanders by eliminating disease and premature death due to tobacco” [Emphasis added]. Its very narrow focus on tobacco issues limits it as a charity to only engage in  activities in pursuit of promoting the adoption by the community of the Society’s particular point of view on the health issues of concern to the Society’s small number of members (the dangers of tobacco use). It seeks to focus attention on the harmful nature and consequences of tobacco use. The vast majority of New Zealanders do not smoke tobacco and probably have little knowledge of or interest in ASH’s narrow agenda.

In the financial year ending 30 June 2011, this lobby group received $592,892 in government funding and $38,400 from all other grants and sponsorship – a grand total of $631,292. It spent $475,936 on wages and salaries (employing 5  full-tme people and 2 part-timers): 66.9% of its total income of $711,101.

ASH ended its 2010/11 financial year with a deficit of $24,511 and liabilities of $96,510. It had additional income sources over the period of $40,908 (donations and membership fees). Its total expenditure was $735,612.

The ASH lobby group’s objects, taken from section 3.1 of its constitution, include:

3.1.1 To educate the public about the harmful effects of active and passive smoking on health.

3.1.2 To support and encourage relevant legislation for the benefit of the community e.g. the Smoke-free Environments Act, 1990.

3.1.3 To advocate for services to assist smokers to quit.

3.1.6. To do any other lawful acts incidental to these objects or to the progress or enhancement of the Society and its objects.

3.1.7 To use the funds of the Society to attain the objects of the Society….

Comments by SPCS

The Society fully supports the good work carried out by ASH New Zealand Inc.

Concerning Section 3.1 of ASH’s constitution it comments:

S. 3.1.1

This is a close parallel to one of the 7 objects of SPCS: S. 2(d) “To focus attention [via education and research  etc] on the harmful nature and consequences of sexual promiscuity, obscenity, pornography etc.

Critics of the two Societies – ASH and SPCS – might try to argue that because smoking, disseminating and watching hardcore pornography, engaging in promiscuity and using obsenities in a public place are all legal activities; these societies should be stripped of their charitable status because they are merely “promoting the adoption by the community of the particular points of view on moral/health issues of concern to the respective Societies.”

Such reasoning is fallacious. For example: Millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money is spent each year to fund enforcement agencies seeking to safeguard society the public from the injurious impact of pornography and smoking. Using obscenities in a public to cause offence and the viewing of pornography on a work place computer are not legal activities. The injurious nature of such activities is now written into legislation.

 Section: 3.1.2.

This clearly allows ASH to lobby for legislative changes (“political advocacy”) and engage advocacy for current legislation it supports, both of which it does regularly. In contrast SPCS does not indulge in “political advocacy” despite accusations to the contrary, It does however seek “To foster public awareness on the benefits to social, economic and moral welfare of communiy standards.”

Secton 3.13:

Clearly allows ASH to strongly advocate for services to be provided by government to help people quit smoking. This means political advocacy and lobbying is allowed for under its “charitable” objects.

If SPCS had an equivalent statement, which it does NOT, relating to porn, imagine the outcry!

To advocate for services to assist those addicted to porn to quit and those hooked on a promiscuous lifestyle to learn how to show sexual restraint. !!!

Note: It is misleading to claim that smoking, promiscuity, and porn viewing are all LEGAL activities . They are NOT within certain contexts.

It is now politically correct to advocate for and enforce smoke free work places. But this is only a very recent development following the enactment of relevant legislation following years of lobbying by groups like ASH.

What if SPCS campaigned for porn free workplaces AND sought government funding for it !! ASH receives about $600,00 dollars from government to employ five full-time and two part-time staff working for the lobby group ASH.

Section 3.1.6

This means any incidental activities that are lawful and happen to advance ASH’s goals can be deemed as legitimate charitable acts: a blanket catch-all defence based on a catch-all objective.

Section 3.17

In February 2011 SPCS added an equivalent object – s. 2(g) – to its constitution. See www.societies.govt.nz  (Inc. Soc. No. 217833).

Conclusions

The government supports lobby group ASH New Zealand Inc. to the tune of about $600,000 per year – to pursue its [ASH's] primary purpose of promoting the adoption by the community of the Society’s particular point of view on health issues (use of tobacco) of concern to the Society. Educating New Zealanders about the harmful nature of active and passive smoking on health has involved ASH in significant lobbying and political advocacy over the years leading to legislative changes.

For many New Zealanders in the Christian community in particular, the non-smoking message message advanced by ASH is in line with their values/moral viewpoint. Political advocacy plays a significsant part in all ASH activities as recognised in its objects.

Most of ASH’s gross income (i.e. 70%) for the financial year ending 30 June 2011 was spent on the wages and salaries of five full-time staff and two part-timers (total 234 hours per week).

The SPCS fully supports the good work carried out by this effective lobby group.

Filed Under: Political Advocacy Tagged With: ,

Cynical Porn Parade Will Confront Children – says Family First NZ

February 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Cynical Porn Parade Will Confront Children: Family First NZ Media Release 22/02/12

Family First NZ [a registered charity with the Charities Commission] is advising parents of school children in Palmerston North to be aware that there will be a public pornography parade featuring topless girls happening after children have been released from school on Friday. [It is again calling for politicians to "amend" the law "so that public porn parades and public displays of nudity are deemed offensive and indecent, and thereby illegal."]

“The Erotica [Lifestyles Expo] Promotion, also known as Boobs on Bikes, is scheduled to travel around the central city square from 4pm. This is a cynical move by the hard core porn industry to expose children and young people to the industry,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“We would advise parents to do everything they can to avoid children being exposed to this parade, and if necessary, they should keep their children at home for the day.”

Family First is disappointed that the parade is even able to happen in such a public venue but points the blame squarely at the police for not enforcing the law consistently, judges who believe that topless porn parades and nudity are not offensive, and the lack of political willpower to act in the best interests of families and children.

“Steve Crow can label it a ‘freedom of expression’ event, but to the intelligent, it is simply a cynical attempt to market and normalise the porn industry to families.”

“It is time that the rights of families not to be exposed to offensive and adult material are put before the rights of the pornography industry to promote themselves,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First NZ continues to call on the politicians to amend the Summary Offences Act and the Crimes Act so that public porn parades and public displays of nudity are deemed offensive and indecent, and thereby illegal.

ENDS

www.familyfirst.org.nz

Note: The licensee for staging Erotica Lifestyles Expo is Esprit Events Ltd , a company incorporated on 10 November 2011 by John Malcolm Carr CPA just days before the former licensee Eden Digital Ltd, also directed by John M Carr, was put into liquidation on 22 November. Carr is sole director of CVC Group Ltd,  which  owns Eden Digital Ltd (In Liq) and Esprit Events Ltd. On 16 September 2011 John Carr revoked the license Eden Digital held to stage Erotica. This was done on the same day he resigned as director of Eden Digital Ltd. On 11 November the license was transferred from Eden Digital Ltd to Esprit Events Ltd. CVC Group Ltd owns the trademark for “Boobs on Bikes” – used in the Erotica parade which markets Mr Carr’s hardcore porn business.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Announcement, Family, Pornography Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Concerns over suppression in child sex tour case

February 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

ECPAT, a charity registered with the Charities Commission, says public needs to be aware of jailed man’s identity, even though a Court Judge has granted him name suppression.

Challege Weekly reports …

ECPAT Child ALERT’s national director is concerned over the issues of name suppression for a child sex tour organiser, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment by the High Court last week.

Alan Bell also raised concerns over the fact that the 47-year old offender was charged in August 2010, over 18 months ago. “It is disturbing that this case took 18 months to bring to conclusion,” Mr Bell told Challenge Weekly. “During this time the accused was free and could hide behind name suppression. Criminal charges where the safety of children is concerned should be dealt with swifly and unless there is a child protection issue, the name should be released so that the public are aware,” he says.

Justice Edwin Wylie passed the sentence at Auckland’s High Court on February 14, stating that he hoped it would send a strong message. The man is the first person in New Zealand to be charged with organising and promoting child sex tours.

Mr Bell said the sentence was reasonable given that it was a difficult one for the judge to arrive at because there was no precedent. “He didn’t have any other cases of this nature to gauge whether this was more serious and less serious. He came out and gave a three-year sentence of a seven-year maximum. We feel thast’s reasonable in this case. There has to be provision for more serious cases that may occur in the future.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child Sex Crimes, Crime, Sexual Dysfunction Tagged With: , , , ,

Patricia Bartlett – founder of Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (SPCS)

February 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

From Wairarapa News 15/02/12.

Patricia Bartlett -- The Long View by Rick Long -- The future was in our hands

Filed Under: Newspaper Articles Tagged With: , , , ,

Should NZ community standards incorporate Sharia or Islamic Law?

February 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Collins dismisses call to establish Islamic tourism – Fairfax Media

A Government report calling for promotion of strictly Islamic tourism in New Zealand has been disowned by Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins.

In a briefing to its incoming minister, the Office of Ethnic Affairs had called for halal tourism, along with the creation of a New Zealand constitution entrenching ethnic social rights that could include Sharia or Islamic law.

However, Ms Collins said the briefing did not reflect Government policy. “It is not a Government policy document.”

The Office of Ethnic Affairs, which costs $6 million a year to run, urged the new minister to raise awareness of halal tourism as an “emerging opportunity”. It defines halal tourism as incorporating activities and services that are in keeping with Islamic law.

Countries such as Malaysia and Turkey encouraged it by offering separate beaches, swimming pools and spas, separate aircraft seating for men and women, hotels free of alcohol, gambling and pork, and halal food and a Koran in aircraft seat pockets.

Last year the Government, as part of its deal with the Maori Party, set up a panel to consider constitutional arrangements. The briefing to Ms Collins says: “Ethnic communities are keen to discuss the development of a multicultural policy to entrench the civil, political, social and language rights of ethnic people in New Zealand.

“The potential for multicultural policy, including legislation, is gaining voice within ethnic communities, and is likely to be raised with you.”

University of Auckland constitutional law Professor Bill Hodge said special privilege for one group went against a basic principle that accident of birth should not mean privilege.

“If we are setting up Sharia and special rules for certain people, does that mean a Muslim would not be prosecuted under the Crimes Act for a second, third and fourth

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6406555/Collins-dismisses-call-to-establish-Islamic-tourism

Dominion Post 13 February 2012. Story by Michael Field -Fairfax Media

 

Filed Under: Moral Values Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Community Standards breached – Prison staff caught using work internet to view porn

February 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Prison staff caught using work internet to view porn. Dominion Post 14 February 2012

Corrections staff are using work computers to get porn and access high-profile prisoners’ details.

Despite the breaches, provided to The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act, none of the staff involved were fired and some – caught accessing high-profile prisoners’ files without authority – were not given official warnings.

Three staff got verbal warnings for accessing prisoners details, which they were not allowed to see. Five were given warnings for accessing sexually explicit and offensive material. Of those, two had been circulating pornography and other offensive material.

Corrections could not say what pornography had been viewed on staff computers but said all pornographic sites were blocked, meaning the offensive images would have been emailed in.

“Final written warnings were issued to three staff for viewing sexually explicit images,” a Corrections spokesman said. “The department’s web filter is designed to block access to pornographic websites – and other sites like Trade Me or for social networking – so the images tend to be sent to work computers via email.

“Often the images are embedded in the likes of Word or Excel documents that are picked up by our content filter once they are opened.

“Staff can be warned about accessing images that are deemed inappropriate or offensive, but may not be pornographic. Repeat breaches can result in written warnings and eventually dismissal.”

One staff member was given a verbal warning for using the department’s Integrated Offender Management System to “inappropriately” view records of high-profile prisoners out of curiosity. No records were altered.

Other staff members who did the same were not given warnings.

Two further written warnings were issued for staff using the internal computer system to look up information then acting on it inappropriately.

Corrections said they were minor breaches but, citing privacy reasons, would not elaborate.

“Thousands of our staff access the internet and our IOMS system every day for legitimate work purposes. With only eight breaches over the course of a year we believe the level of abuse is very low.

“There have been a small number of cases we deem serious and take immediate action.”

Peter Tomlinson, lawyer for double murderer Graeme Burton, said he did not know whether his client had records accessed inappropriately. However, the bigger problem was staff taking action on information obtained improperly. This could include using it to gain power over a prisoner, or releasing it to other prisoners, potentially exposing them to increased danger.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6405809/Prison-staff-caught-using-work-internet-to-view-porn

Stoty by Tom Hunt

 
 
 
Filed Under: Moral Values, Pornography Tagged With: ,

Community standards breached – Is the moral and spiritual welfare of our children at risk?

February 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Unfit to Teach – the roll of Shame – Dominion Post 13 February. Story by Lane Nichols

Hundreds of teachers have criminal convictions and many are not fit to teach, newly released figures show.

Teachers have been investigated for sexual misconduct, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, incompetence, dishonesty and viewing pornography in the past two years.

The number of complaints has jumped by about half since the Teachers Council was set up in 2002 to vet teachers and independently investigate allegations of serious misconduct.

Of the 664 teachers whose behaviour triggered complaints since November 2009, nearly 300 were convicted of criminal offences.

Fourteen were struck off the Teachers Council register for serious code-of-conduct breaches or criminal offending. In total, nearly 50 teachers were stripped of their teaching licences in the past two years alone.

High-profile cases of misbehaving teachers include:

- A female teacher became pregnant with a 17-year-old high school pupil’s child after they put the school yearbook together.

-  A male teacher was caught with more than 200 pornographic images, including a videotape of his daughter and two foreign exchange students taking showers.

- Other cases include teachers viewing bestiality, committing theft, driving drunk and abusing illicit drugs.

For more see or continue below

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/6406164/Hundreds-of-unfit-teachers-in-class [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol abuse, Child Sex Crimes, Crime, Enforcement, Moral Values, Pornography
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