SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Update: The Pilgrim’s Progress Book donations to NZ Prisoners

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Society (SPCS) members donated $4,950 in 2010 towards the printing of multiple copies of John Bunyan’s classic work – The Pilgrim’s Progress, and donated $5,245 in 2011: – a total of $10,195 donated over two years (see advertisement for donations on homepage of website). In addition SPCS has raised thousands of dollars from non-members towards this Books in Prisons project via an effective advertising campaign through its newsletters. Donations were used just for printing costs.

The Society has arranged and paid for the distribution of hundreds of the books to prisoners in all 20 NZ prisons. Within the last two weeks it dispatched 26 copies to the Otago Corrections Facility and 20 copies for distribution to the Christchurch Mens Prision.

One prison chaplain recently reported that once word is out that the books are available within the prison, they “fly off the shelf” – snapped up by prisoners seeking spiritual answers found a book that chronicles in timeless allegory the journey of a man – Pilgrim – from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City of God (Heaven).

Pilgrim’s burden of guilt and shame for his sin is lifted from him at the Cross of Christ where he finds forgiveness, God-given faith and the new joy and hope that is the fruit of a true conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ – and is accompanied by genuine repentance.

Author John Bunyan wrote the book while serving time in prison himself and the work is a truly creative expression of his own spiritual journey. It is deeply and richly ingrained with the biblical insights and wisdon he gained after he became a committed believer and follower of Jesus Christ.

The Society executive wishes to thank all its members and others who have contributed so generously towards this Books for Prisoners Project. The work is ongoing and we are heartened by your support and the positive feedback we have received from those working with prisoners who have gained access to the books (Prison Fellowship, Chaplaincy Services etc).

This project in part serves to fulfill the Society’s primary charitable purpose: the promotion of the spiritual and moral welfare of society. In addition it constitutes a public benefit (i.e. it is beneficial to the community)  in a number of self-evident ways (e.g. education and/or rehabilitation of prisoners, relief and/or redemption of prisoners, and aiding the poor etc).

In order to be considered charitable as “any other matters beneficial to the community“, purposes must be beneficial to the community and must be within the spirit and intendment of the purposes set out in the Preamble to The Charitable Uses Act 1601 (the Statute of Elizabeth).

The purposes must benefit the community in a way that the law regards as charitable. The Books for Prisoners Project most definitely qualifies as such and has been positively commended by officials of the Charities Commission when they have met with SPCS executive members on two occasions at the Charities Commission Offices in Wellington.

 

Britain Launches War on Multiculturalism – Stonegate Institute

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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

Should NZ community standards incorporate Sharia or Islamic Law?

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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

 

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

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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

 
 
 

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

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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…]