SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Death With Dignity?

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 Article by Michael R. Bott BA

“The Nazis had a scheme for killing the mentally insane which they called ‘mercy-killing’ or ‘euthanasia’ ; apparently, they could hardly wait for the smokescreen of war to put it into effect. By an order dated Sept. 1, 1939 – the very day war broke out – Hitler authorised the Chief of his chancellery, Buehler, and his private physician, Dr. Brandt, to administer ‘mercy killing’ to incurable persons.” [Ref. 1: Gideon Hausner. Justice in Jerusalem (NY: Holocaust Library, 1968), p.90].

Introduction

Euthanasia, as far as the 20th century is concerned, is no new thing. Immediately after the Second World War, revelations about the Nazi Holocaust meant that euthanasia fell into disrepute. However, euthanasia, once considered unthinkable, is now widely practised in the Netherlands. In Australia, in our own part of the world, the Northern Territory Government has recently voted to allow voluntary euthanasia.

It is with macabre irony that the capital of the Northern Territory is named after the man whose theories have done much to undermine Christian values – Charles Darwin. (His ‘theory’ of natural selection was defined in terms of  ‘survival of the fittest,’  a phrase first coined by Herbert Spencer).

For full article go to:

http://www.christian-apologetics.org/html/death.htm#t2 [Read more…]

Dr Philip Nitschke and SPCS Executive Director interviewed on Australian Current Affairs Programme – PM

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Controversy in NZ over Australian euthanasia book [Full Interview Transcript & Audio Link]

PM – Tuesday, 13 May , 2008  18:46:00
Reporter: Kerri Ritchie

BRENDAN TREMBATH: In New Zealand, right to life groups are outraged at a decision allowing a pro-euthanasia book co-written by Philip Nitschke to be sold in the country.
The Peaceful Pill Handbook was banned in Australia last year, but an edited version has been cleared for sale to New Zealanders over the age of 18.
While opponents are demanding the decision be reviewed, Philip Nitschke is now vowing to make another attempt to get his book into Australian shops.
New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie reports.
KERRI RITCHIE: There in black and white, The Peaceful Pill Handbook outlines ways people can commit suicide.
Philip Nitschke hopes his book will be in New Zealand shops within a fortnight.

You can also listen to the story in REAL AUDIO and WINDOWS MEDIA and MP3 formats.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2243906.htm [Read more…]

Review sought by Society over release of pro-euthanasia book

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A review is being sought over the controversial release of a pro-euthanasia book by Australian Philip Nitschke.

The Society for Promotion of Community Standards [SPCS] has written to the Film and Literature Board of Review [see letter below] seeking a review of the decision [web-link below] to approve the book for R18 release. [Read more…]

Is there a causal-effect between exposure to video game violence and violent behaviour?

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Video Game Violence and Public Policy

David Walsh, Ph.D.

National Institute on Media and the Family

Concern about violent video and computer games is based on the assumption that they contribute to aggression and violence among young players. That conclusion was originally based on the extensive body of research about the effects of television violence on children’s behavior. Prominent organizations like the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association have all concluded that the scientific evidence shows a cause-effect relationship between television violence and aggression among the children and youth who watch it. Based on this research, many social scientists have hypothesized that we should expect video games to have an even greater impact for the following four reasons.

http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/conf2001/papers/walsh.html [Read more…]