Watching the World - MEGA THREAD of topics

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

an esoteric hotchpotch of topics, from the mildly interesting to the rather boringi'm posting here to avoid the 'new topic' forum limitations, and besides it also helps to avoid clogging up the forum if you think something is of passing interest, and you wish to comment on it, please feel free to re-post as a new topic - thanks!

.

darkspilver

PUERTO RICO: Cabo Rojo Controlled Access Law

Seems to be an on going issue.... (via Google Translate)

Cabo Rojo meets the Jehovah's Witnesses

Monday 27 February 2017
The mayor details the actions of the municipality so that the religious have access to the urbanizations with access contro
Mayor Roberto "Bobby" Ramirez Kurtz reported that the municipal administration of Cabo Rojo complied with the request of the Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Puerto Rico to enter urbanizations with access control permits and carry out activities of door evangelism ministry to door, in the streets and sidewalks of said closed communities.
Ramirez Kurtz and his legal representatives appeared before the Federal Court for the District of Puerto Rico, in a follow-up to the lawsuit filed by the Congregation against the municipalities of the Island, including Cabo Rojo, to gain access to the closed communities.
...
Municipal legislation imposes "any access control urbanization, which by the action and / or omission of its residents, employees, agents or administrators, deny access to persons and / or entities that are interested in asserting the Rights recognized by the Court, will be sanctioned with a fine of $ 500.00 for a first violation, of $ 1,000.00 for a second violation; And in case of a third violation, with the cancellation of the access control permit granted by the Municipality, which means that the urbanization will be obliged to remove the entrance gates or to keep them open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, 24 hours Of the day, 7 days a week."
Ramirez Kurtz stated that in order to comply with the Court's order, the current Police Commissioner and his successors must provide information on telephone contact (cellular and residential) to the local leaders of the Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses who are interested in incurring The activities listed in the Ordinance. In addition, he was instructed to train all his staff on the rights of freedom of expression in the context of access control developments and the guidelines contained in the order of the Federal Court.

7

IICSA child sex abuse inquiry public hearings under way

by ZAPPA-ESQUE in

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39099778.

will this enquiry eventually also be looking at the wtbts?

the independent inquiry was set up after the death of dj jimmy savile in 2011 when hundreds of people came forward to say he had abused them as children.. the hearings are taking place at the international dispute resolution centre in central london, with the first phase concerning australia expected to last 10 days..

darkspilver

FYI

Child abuse inquiry names victims in email

The Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 28 February 2017, page 14
Officials forced to apologise and refer themselves to the regulator after data breach on first day of hearings
Officials at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) have been forced to apologise to some of the victims after accidentally sending out a list of their email addresses on the first day of public hearings.

Don’t lock up low-risk paedophiles, say police

The Times, Tuesday 28 February 2017, front page
Paedophiles who view indecent images should not be given any criminal sanction unless they pose a physical threat to children, according to Britain’s most senior child protection police officer.
Simon Bailey said that the policing system had reached “saturation point” from increasing reports of sexual abuse, including online and historical cases. Lower-level offending should be decriminalised and dealt with through counselling and rehabilitation, said Mr Bailey, who takes the lead on child protection at the National Police Chiefs Council.
He acknowledged that the stance would horrify many people but said that police forces had limited resources and needed to focus on offenders posing a threat of contact abuse. He said: “The police service [is] having to deal with an unprecedented volume of reports of non-recent abuse, ongoing abuse, online abuse, peer-to-peer abuse. The numbers are continuing to rise. We have reached saturation point . . . The police service has responded to the threat but it has now reached that point whereby we have to try and turn the tide. We have to look at alternatives.”
The number of child abuse reports has risen by 80 per cent in three years. Police receive an average of 112 complaints a day and there are more than 70,000 investigations a year. Forces are also preparing for an estimated 40,000 reports of abuse from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which began hearing evidence yesterday. The figure comes from modelling based on a similar public inquiry in Australia.
Mr Bailey, head of Operation Hydrant, the national investigation into historical child sexual abuse, added: “How can the police service be expected to cope with all that if, in the margins, we are still having to deal with what I would describe as very, very low-risk offenders, who, based upon good risk assessments, pose little if any actual threat of contact abuse? . . . Those individuals that you can say with a degree of certainty genuinely don’t pose a physical threat — that to me seems to be a reasonable line [for an alternative approach].”
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/don-t-lock-up-low-risk-paedophiles-say-police-xkqsh35mc?shareToken=2399be67e74e22c7a5fe9a60c92301cc

32

Sister at Kingdom Hall visibly upset "they took jehovahs name out of song"

by hoser in

jw
friends

i went to meeting today and the sister in front of me was upset song 134 now song 139 no longer contains jehovahs name.

they took it out.

i never even noticed .

darkspilver

How weird - it is one of the new songs aswell, it is the only change to this particular song, in the chorus....

NOW - Song 139: See Yourself When All Is New
Chorus
“We thank you, our God, for all you have done.
All things are new by the rule of your Son.
The fullness of our heart overflows in our song;
All glory and honor and praise to you belong.”

WAS - Song 134: See Yourself When All Is New
Chorus
“Jehovah our God, how well you have done!
All things are new by the rule of your Son.
The fullness of our heart overflows in our song;
All glory and honor and praise to you belong.”

32

Watching the World - MEGA THREAD of topics

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

an esoteric hotchpotch of topics, from the mildly interesting to the rather boringi'm posting here to avoid the 'new topic' forum limitations, and besides it also helps to avoid clogging up the forum if you think something is of passing interest, and you wish to comment on it, please feel free to re-post as a new topic - thanks!

.

darkspilver

AUSTRALIA: JW AFL Alex Rance Interview

The Sunday Herald Sun 25 February 2017, page 12

Large picture and interview with Alex Rance.

Girls' team my next goal

A footy school started by AFL star Alex Rance is set to enrol its first female students.
...
The school uses Essendon’s spiritual home, Windy Hill, for training and has classrooms up the road.
It simulates life inside an AFL club but focuses on "emotional intelligence, resilience and critical thinking".
The school wants to produce good people, not just good students or footy players.
That’s something Rance had tussled with over his 10-year AFL career, deciding at the end of the 2014 that he would hang up the boots when his contract expired as the game sucked time and energy from his family.
He had tried landscape architecture, trained to be a pilot, took up a carpentry apprenticeship and dabbled in real estate to get a good balance outside of footy, but nothing stuck.
His latest venture — created with education adviser Luke Surace and Casey Helman, who had experience in secondary schools — has got him hooked.
...
[Rance] is also learning to deal with the added attention that comes with being a footy star, club clown, Jehovah’s Witness, family man, and media identity with spots on Channel 9’s Postcards and The Footy Show.
"I’m not a stereotype,” Rance said.
"There are so many things about me that potentially break the mould."

Watching the World - MEGA THREAD of topics

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

an esoteric hotchpotch of topics, from the mildly interesting to the rather boringi'm posting here to avoid the 'new topic' forum limitations, and besides it also helps to avoid clogging up the forum if you think something is of passing interest, and you wish to comment on it, please feel free to re-post as a new topic - thanks!

.

darkspilver

WT: Warwick World HQ Tour Brochure

The new world headquarters of JWs, located at Warwick, New York, will open for tours on Monday, April 3, 2017.

In anticipation, a new eight-page glossy brochure about this facility has now been released:

DOWNLOAD PDF: https://download-a.akamaihd.net/files/media_cmsassets/70/fo_s-WHQ_E.pdf

MORE INFO: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/offices/united-states/

Please note that the earliest dates available for tours are now in from mid-August 2017 onwards

Now you can play the WT's version of 'Where's Wally?'... 'Where's the GB?'... can you spot them all?

SEE ALSO: Letter July 1, 2016 - Re: Information for Touring the World Headquarters at Warwick, New York

SEE ALSO: Letter December 31, 2016 - Re: 2017 Annual Meeting and Warwick/Wallkill Dedication Program

Feel free to repost as a New Topic

32

Watching the World - MEGA THREAD of topics

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

an esoteric hotchpotch of topics, from the mildly interesting to the rather boringi'm posting here to avoid the 'new topic' forum limitations, and besides it also helps to avoid clogging up the forum if you think something is of passing interest, and you wish to comment on it, please feel free to re-post as a new topic - thanks!

.

darkspilver

An esoteric hotchpotch of topics, from the mildly interesting to the rather boring

I'm posting here to avoid the 'new topic' forum limitations, and besides it also helps to avoid clogging up the forum

If you think something is of passing interest, and you wish to comment on it, please feel free to re-post as a New Topic - thanks!

7

SWEDEN: JWs Have Right to State Funding

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

fyi - from sweden.

first an article from the swedish newspaper svenska dagbladet (via google translate).

jehovah's witnesses won against the government.

darkspilver

FYI - from Sweden

First an article from the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet (via Google Translate)

Jehovah's Witnesses won against the government

Monday 20 February 2017
Witnesses applied for state subsidies, but the government said no on the grounds that the community encourages its members not to accept blood transfusions to minors. Hence meet community requirements not to contribute to society's fundamental values, according to the government.
But now the Supreme Administrative Court has given Jehovah's Witnesses law and remit the matter to the government.
The Court considers that the Jehovah's Witnesses at the same time urge their members to cooperate with medical care in deciding whether a child to get a blood transfusion. Additionally pointing rights including the freedom of religion and the right of individuals.
According to the law, "a religious community is not considered to be in conflict with democratic values it urges its members to act in a manner consistent with the right to express opinions and oppose medical treatment due to them under the law."
A judge of the five dissented and wanted to give the government the right.
READ ORIGINAL: https://www.svd.se/jehovas-vittnen-vann-mot-regeringen

The judgement is explained in more detail (in native English) along with links, by the the American Library of Congress Law Library

Sweden: Jehovah’s Witnesses Have Right to State Funding

(Feb. 24, 2017) On February 20, 2017, the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court decided that Jehovah’s Witnesses have the right to state funding and that not providing such support would violate articles 14 and 19 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
...
The ruling sends the application back to the government, which will have to make a new decision consistent with the verdict. If there are no reasons other than the practice of refusing children’s blood transfusions to deny the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ application for funding, the application should be granted.
Religious organizations may soon see another set of rules apply, however, as the Swedish government is researching a new law on state funding of faith-based organizations; a report is expected to be issued in March 2018. Among the reasons for the review is to evaluate whether the government should withdraw funding when it is discovered that the faith-based organization receiving the grant has developed in a non-democratic direction. Moreover, the committee reviewing the state-funding program has been asked by the Department of Culture to look at ways to make the law more religiously neutral by using language other than "ceremony and service". The committee was also directed to propose language that would permit the recovery of funds that have been used to fund non-democratic ideas.
Several Members of the Swedish Parliament, representing five out of seven political groups, have previously voiced similar concerns and objected to the funding of religious organizations that promote gender inequality and discrimination against sexual minorities.
READ MORE: http://www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/sweden-jehovahs-witnesses-have-right-to-state-funding/

This has been an ongoing issue which seems to have been going back-and-forth:

Yearbook 2016, pages 40 to 41

In May 2012, the government of Sweden rejected an application by Jehovah’s Witnesses to receive the economic benefits granted to other religious organizations. The Governing Body gave the approval for the decision to be appealed to the country’s Supreme Administrative Court...
The Court ruled in our favor, and the case was referred back to the government for a new decision.

haha - I posted this new topic 24 hours ago - and its now only just turned up here

1

CANADA: When Syrian Refugees Open the Door to JWs

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

fyi - from canada.....when syrian refugees open the door to jehovah's witnesses.

https://thewalrus.ca/when-syrian-refugees-open-the-door-to-jehovahs-witnesses/.

how do you explain proselytizers to a friendly newcomer?.

darkspilver

FYI - from Canada.....

When Syrian Refugees Open the Door to Jehovah's Witnesses

https://thewalrus.ca/when-syrian-refugees-open-the-door-to-jehovahs-witnesses/

How do you explain proselytizers to a friendly newcomer?
By Emma Waverman - 24 February 2017
Safa stood there with teacups in hand looking bewildered. Google Translate and I tried to explain about Jehovah’s Witnesses, but a round of charades couldn’t quite get the message across that those nice white women wanted her to abandon her religion—one of the last remaining constants from her life in Syria. I told her that they were selling Christian Bibles.
She nodded at me, smiling, but I recognized the perplexed shrug she gave me. It is the look of resignation when confronted with another ridiculous Canadian habit, such as tobogganing in sub-zero snowstorms, strapping screaming children into car seats, or using measuring cups while baking. She has been in Toronto for nine months and a couple of pretty, white women in her apartment telling her what to do no longer surprises her. Sometimes, I am amazed that she lets any of us past her doorstep.
READ MORE: https://thewalrus.ca/when-syrian-refugees-open-the-door-to-jehovahs-witnesses/

Article: Pinoy Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia face deportation (About Philippine JWs in Russia)

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/152841/pinoy-jehovahs-witnesses-russia-face-deportation.

pinoy jehovah’s witnesses in russia face deportation.

philippine daily inquirer / 05:40 am february 24, 2017. .

darkspilver

TBH I believe the newspaper made the mistake with the mix-up of using the '8,000' figure - there's also the coincidence of the figure matching up with the Moscow Times article - also the next sentence the newspaper says 'hundreds' will be effected, which doesn't match-up with 8,000, but is still apparently generous.

This should really have been picked up by the copy-editor / subeditor - unfortunately it seems many newspapers are doing away with them nowadays

in answer to my question above--this newspaper confirms 8000 pinoy in Russia--of which " hundreds" attend kingdom halls.

OK, that makes more sense regarding what has happpened - thanks for finding it!:

The original web article by Gobleth Moulic dated Thursday 23 February 2017 in a 320 word article stated:

There are more than 8,000 Filipinos in Russia, and hundreds of them have been worshiping in various Kingdom Halls there
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/152815/religious-group-asks-dfa-protect-members-russia

The same article re-edited into a 300 word article that was published on page 5 in the print newspaper on Friday 25 February 2017, and was re-published on the website - which stated:

more than 8,000 Filipino Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.
Hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia are affected
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/152841/pinoy-jehovahs-witnesses-russia-face-deportation

So it looks like some VERY poor editing by the newspaper

( in case youre wondering about my interest--my wife is filipina--living with me in the UK. )

Yes, I remember

13

Article: Pinoy Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia face deportation (About Philippine JWs in Russia)

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/152841/pinoy-jehovahs-witnesses-russia-face-deportation.

pinoy jehovah’s witnesses in russia face deportation.

philippine daily inquirer / 05:40 am february 24, 2017. .

darkspilver

stan livedeath: if there were 8000 JW' pinoy in Russia--we could expect the TOTAL pinoy ex pat population in Russia to be around 3.8 million.

haha - mea culpa! - yes, thanks for picking that up! my mistake - misread my calculator - for 8,000 JW with a ratio of 1-in-483 there would need to be a base of 3.8 MILLION

darkspilver

Posts by darkspilver

PUERTO RICO: Cabo Rojo Controlled Access Law

AUSTRALIA: JW AFL Alex Rance Interview

WT: Warwick World HQ Tour Brochure