Posts by OrphanCrow

8

Mama Jackson Cashes in Ice Cream Money

by OrphanCrow in

jw
friends

michael jackson's estate sells stake in sony/atv music catalogue for $750m.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/sony-michael-jackson-music-catalog-1.3491828.

michael jackson's estate has agreed to sell its remaining stake in a lucrative music catalogue to sony corp. for $750 million us, the entities announced monday.the agreement for jackson's half-share of the sony/atv music publishing catalogue will give the company sole ownership of works by the beatles, bob dylan and other hit making musicians, including eminem and taylor swift.the deal is another posthumous blockbuster deal for jackson, whose estate has erased the singer's massive debts through a mixture of new music and movie ventures and re-releases of the singer's most popular music.jackson's estate benefits his mother and three children, known as prince, paris and blanket.. read full article at link.

OrphanCrow

cappy: OrphanCrpw: 💰💰💵💵 Emoji should work on most platforms. You don't see these: 💰💰💰💵💵💵 ?

Nope...no idea what you mean. I am clueless.

35

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014

by OrphanCrow in

this is good news.

the wt have lost in their attempt to stop the uk charity commission's inquiry into their affairs.

however, the wt is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charityjudgment handed down by court of appeal in legal challenge to charity commission inquiry opened in 2014.today, the court of appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the watch tower bible and tract society of britain (the leading jehovah’s witness charity in the uk).

OrphanCrow

And another article:

Jehovah’s Witness charity loses appeal against Commission inquiry

David Ainsworth | 15 Mar 2016
The UK’s leading Jehovah’s Witness charity has lost an appeal for a judicial review of a Charity Commission inquiry into its safeguarding procedures, but won a review of a Commission order to produce documents.
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain sought a judicial review of a decision in 2014 to open a statutory inquiry into its safeguarding policies for children and adults at risk. The inquiry was opened followed allegations that a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses had allowed a paedophile to question his victims as a “disfellowship” meeting.
The charity also sought a review of a Commission order requiring it to produce, among other things, “All documents created on or after 1 June 2011 setting out or recording an instance or allegation of, or complaint about, abuse of or by a person who is or has been a member of the charity or a congregation charity”.
The case was heard in February in the Court of Appeal by Lord John Dyson, the Master of the Rolls – the second most senior judge in England and Wales – sitting with Lord Justice Richard McCombe and Lord Justice David Richards.
The three judges unanimously ruled against the appeal in the case of the statutory inquiry, saying that the Charity Tribunal was the proper place to hear a challenge.
However they allowed a review of the production order, because the wording of the Charities Act 2011 limits the tribunals’ ability to hear such challenges.
A Charity Commission spokesman said: “The Commission is pleased that the court unanimously dismissed Watch Tower’s challenge to the Commission’s decision to open an inquiry. This is a significant decision allowing the Commission’s inquiry to continue to progress. The challenge was dismissed because the court accepted the Commission’s argument that the First-tier Tribunal (Charity) was the correct place to hear Watch Tower’s challenge to the inquiry opened by the Commission. The Commission believes that the specialist Tribunal is the right venue for such cases and is pleased that the Court of Appeal has confirmed this.
“The Commission is disappointed that the Court of Appeal found in favour of Watch Tower in one respect, deciding that the challenge to the Commission’s order seeking documents from the charity should be heard by the Administrative Court rather than the Tribunal. This decision was reached because of the specific wording of section 320 of the Charities Act 2011, which limits the Tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear challenges to such orders.”

35

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014

by OrphanCrow in

this is good news.

the wt have lost in their attempt to stop the uk charity commission's inquiry into their affairs.

however, the wt is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charityjudgment handed down by court of appeal in legal challenge to charity commission inquiry opened in 2014.today, the court of appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the watch tower bible and tract society of britain (the leading jehovah’s witness charity in the uk).

OrphanCrow

This is a really good article that gives the details of what has happened in court.

Frank Cranmer, "Jehovah’s Witnesses back in court – Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society" in Law & Religion UK, 15 March 2016,http://www.lawandreligionuk.com/2016/03/15/jehovahs-witnesses-back-in-court-watch-tower-bible-tract-society

Another instalment in the long-running dispute between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Charity Commission…
In Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of Britain & Ors v The Charity Commission[2016] EWCA Civ 154 the Court of Appeal has held that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain (WT) may apply for a judicial review of the Charity Commission’s Production Order that it disclose sensitive documents as part of the statutory inquiry but dismissed an application by Watch Tower for review of the Commission’s decision to open an inquiry into the charity.

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014

by OrphanCrow in

this is good news.

the wt have lost in their attempt to stop the uk charity commission's inquiry into their affairs.

however, the wt is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charityjudgment handed down by court of appeal in legal challenge to charity commission inquiry opened in 2014.today, the court of appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the watch tower bible and tract society of britain (the leading jehovah’s witness charity in the uk).

OrphanCrow

wannaexit: What does this mean exactly for Watchtower???

The Watchtower lost ground.

Another brick in the wall came down. The Charity Commission will move ahead with their investigation into them.

But. It is not over and there is a diversion. The document seizures have to be handled through another system. The Watchtower is still trying to block access to information and the access is yet to come.

I believe that it will happen.

Brick by brick. Windows are opening. The Tower will be looked at. Closely.

And they will not like it.

8

Mama Jackson Cashes in Ice Cream Money

by OrphanCrow in

jw
friends

michael jackson's estate sells stake in sony/atv music catalogue for $750m.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/sony-michael-jackson-music-catalog-1.3491828.

michael jackson's estate has agreed to sell its remaining stake in a lucrative music catalogue to sony corp. for $750 million us, the entities announced monday.the agreement for jackson's half-share of the sony/atv music publishing catalogue will give the company sole ownership of works by the beatles, bob dylan and other hit making musicians, including eminem and taylor swift.the deal is another posthumous blockbuster deal for jackson, whose estate has erased the singer's massive debts through a mixture of new music and movie ventures and re-releases of the singer's most popular music.jackson's estate benefits his mother and three children, known as prince, paris and blanket.. read full article at link.

OrphanCrow

Thanks Sparky.

Those are...ummm...a little LARGE, but they will do. And wow...they dance.

:)

And o geez...I wonder if Grandma is gonna pressure the young uns to give their ice cream money to the paradise and panda factory too? Just like Sophie.

35

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014

by OrphanCrow in

this is good news.

the wt have lost in their attempt to stop the uk charity commission's inquiry into their affairs.

however, the wt is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charityjudgment handed down by court of appeal in legal challenge to charity commission inquiry opened in 2014.today, the court of appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the watch tower bible and tract society of britain (the leading jehovah’s witness charity in the uk).

OrphanCrow

I think that the Watchtower is going to have a lot of explaining to do. And, I also think that the Watchtower has been preparing for this investigation for a while.

Another thread some time back discussed Britain WT financial statements and there is some interesting information in them.

The financial statements are linked on this thread:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6570610863898624/charity-does-engage-fund-raising

I have taken some information from the returns, just picking out some key points. Lots of blah blah blah to get through. I will select some tidbits to share that I found interesting.

This is from the 2013 report:

Wider network
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain (the Society) works closely with International Bible Students Association (IBSA), which provides it with serviced facilities for its charitable activities. The Society has also continued to work closely with a charity in Germany. Other charities with similar objects exist in many countries around the world.

And what the WT does for grant making (giving money away):

Grantmaking
The charity's grant making policy is as follows: From time to time the charity is asked by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses to consider helping Jehovah's Witnesses in countries where a need exists.

And how they define their charitable activities and how much they spent in 2013 on 'charity':

Charitable activities - Making donations to further religious education overseas
During the year the charity continued to provide material and financial assistance to associations of Jehovah's Witnesses in several countries. The aid, over £15m in total, was given to promote missionary activity, to support general costs of the local association, and to assist in the operation of local congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Additionally, literature with a value of over £3.2m was donated overseas, mainly to Africa, for use in advancing religious education.

This is interesting and would require some skill to turn a profit simply by the transferring of funds between countries:

Foreign exchange gains and losses
Foreign currency balances have been translated at the prevailing rate on the balance sheet date. Income and expenditures during the year have been translated at the prevailing rate on the day of the transaction. Gains and losses arise when foreign currency assets change in value between their purchase and the balance sheet date.

And how does the WT decide where to send the money and to who?

Grants payable
Grants payable to other institutions are recognized at the point when their payment has been approved by the trustees.

Lots of numbers to wade through but this is what I picked out:

VOLUNTARY INCOME

Grants 2013: £5,530,547

2012: £12,139,311

OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES

Foreign currency gains 2013: £1,304,694

2012: £291,959

Moving along to the 2014 return...the blah blah blah is much the same with new numbers inserted.

Charitable activities - making donations to further religious education overseas During the year the charity continued to provide material and financial assistance to associations of Jehovah's Witnesses in several countries. The aid, over £12.8m in total, was given to promote missionary activity, to support general costs of the local association, and to assist in the operation of local congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Additionally, literature with a value of over £5.6m was donated overseas, mainly to Africa, for use in advancing religious education.

A large decrease of cash etc coming in (over 5 million less coming in for 2014):

VOLUNTARY INCOME
Grants 2104: £137,503

2013: £5,530,547

But...zero income from foreign currency gains. Dropped dramatically from 2013 when that was over a million. The money market and money movement between countries changed sharply:

OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES

Foreign currency gains 2014: £0

2013: £1,304,694

So, in 2014, where did the money move and how much?

During the year, grants paid to institutions with congruous objectives can be analysed as follows:
By continent:
Europe: £17,100,718 (mostly cash of £16,506,664)

And the year before...in 2013? How much went to Europe?

2013
Europe: £621,747

In 2014, the WT moved £16,478,971 more than they had the year previous to Europe. Where in Europe?

GRANTS PAYABLE
Material grants (in the context of grant-making) were made to the following institutions:
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society of South Africa
Watch Tower Society of Jehovah's Witnesses, Nigeria
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Ghana
Jehovas Zeugen, Germany
Association Chretienne Les Temoins De Jehovah, Cameroon

The 2013 report mentions Europe but it does not include the German branch in the list.

In 2014, the UK Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society increased the movement of money and donations to the German branch by close to 17 million pounds. They stripped the Britain branch of cash assets - the same as it appears they may have done in Canada. In this case, they moved the bulk of it to Germany, reducing the money they sent to Africa, etc. in the years previously.

I think that the WT has been battening down the hatches for the past few years. I hope they get their asses spanked. In jail. For fraudulent activity.

8

Mama Jackson Cashes in Ice Cream Money

by OrphanCrow in

jw
friends

michael jackson's estate sells stake in sony/atv music catalogue for $750m.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/sony-michael-jackson-music-catalog-1.3491828.

michael jackson's estate has agreed to sell its remaining stake in a lucrative music catalogue to sony corp. for $750 million us, the entities announced monday.the agreement for jackson's half-share of the sony/atv music publishing catalogue will give the company sole ownership of works by the beatles, bob dylan and other hit making musicians, including eminem and taylor swift.the deal is another posthumous blockbuster deal for jackson, whose estate has erased the singer's massive debts through a mixture of new music and movie ventures and re-releases of the singer's most popular music.jackson's estate benefits his mother and three children, known as prince, paris and blanket.. read full article at link.

OrphanCrow

Michael Jackson's estate sells stake in Sony/ATV music catalogue for $750M

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/sony-michael-jackson-music-catalog-1.3491828

Michael Jackson's estate has agreed to sell its remaining stake in a lucrative music catalogue to Sony Corp. for $750 million US, the entities announced Monday.
The agreement for Jackson's half-share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue will give the company sole ownership of works by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and other hit making musicians, including Eminem and Taylor Swift.
The deal is another posthumous blockbuster deal for Jackson, whose estate has erased the singer's massive debts through a mixture of new music and movie ventures and re-releases of the singer's most popular music.
Jackson's estate benefits his mother and three children, known as Prince, Paris and Blanket.

Read full article at link

I notice that Mama Jackson, an active Jehovah's Witness, receives part of the benefit of this estate sale. I was curious as to how much she would get so I looked up what her share of the estate was. She gets 40 percent of Michael's estate.

Jackson's 23-page document shows that the singer left 40 per cent of his $300million estate to his children, 40 per cent to his mother Katherine and 20 per cent to charity.

A 40 percent share of 750 million dollars is 300 million. Woot toot!

I wonder if Mama Jackson is going to put her ice cream money into the Watchtower coffers and donate at the very least, 10 percent of her treat money to them. Which would be a 30 million dollar windfall for Mama's favorite charity. Win win - a tax write off.

(Simon, we could really do with a money emoticon...dollar signs *insert here*...lots of them)

35

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014

by OrphanCrow in

this is good news.

the wt have lost in their attempt to stop the uk charity commission's inquiry into their affairs.

however, the wt is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charityjudgment handed down by court of appeal in legal challenge to charity commission inquiry opened in 2014.today, the court of appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the watch tower bible and tract society of britain (the leading jehovah’s witness charity in the uk).

OrphanCrow

This is good news. The WT have lost in their attempt to stop the UK charity commission's inquiry into their affairs. However, the WT is still digging in their heels about turning documents over to the charity commission.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/court-of-appeal-gives-judgment-in-court-case-by-jehovahs-witness-charity

Judgment handed down by Court of Appeal in legal challenge to Charity Commission inquiry opened in 2014.
Today, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment regarding the commission’s statutory inquiry, opened in 2014, into the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain (the leading Jehovah’s Witness charity in the UK). This judgment follows a hearing on 10 February 2016. The inquiry was opened to investigate how Watch Tower safeguards children and adults at risk and has been seeking access to the registered charity’s records since 2014. These latest decisions are a part of a series of long-running legal challenges against the commission’s actions.
The commission is pleased that the court unanimously dismissed Watch Tower’s challenge to the commission’s decision to open an inquiry. This is a significant decision allowing the commission’s inquiry to continue to progress. The challenge was dismissed because the court accepted the commission’s argument that the First-tier Tribunal (Charity) was the correct place to hear Watch Tower’s challenge to the inquiry opened by the commission. The commission believes that the specialist Tribunal is the right venue for such cases and is pleased that the Court of Appeal has confirmed this.
The commission is disappointed that the Court of Appeal found in favour of Watch Tower in one respect, deciding that the challenge to the commission’s Order seeking documents from the charity should be heard by the Administrative Court rather than the Tribunal. This decision was reached because of the specific wording of section 320 of the Charities Act 2011, which limits the Tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear challenges to such Orders. The commission continues to believe that the specialist Tribunal is the correct venue to hear such challenges. The commission has concerns that this judgment may cause confusion to charities and trustees wishing to challenge an Order under section 52 of the Charities Act 2011, as they will now need to work out whether the Administrative Court or the Charity Tribunal is the right place to bring the challenge.
Subject to any appeals, the next step in the litigation will be for the Administrative Court to consider whether Watch Tower has put forward arguable grounds to challenge the Production Order, and therefore whether the Production Order should be assessed by the Administrative Court at a full hearing. The commission continues to defend the issuing of the Order. Subject to any appeal by Watch Tower, its challenge to the opening of the commission’s inquiry is at an end.
The commission’s inquiry into how Watch Tower safeguards children and adults at risk continues. The commission is committed to robustly investigating allegations that charities do not have adequate safeguarding policies and practices. It encourages people who have been affected by safeguarding in congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in England and Wales to make contact with the inquiry lead investigator Jonathan Sanders at [email protected]. Members of the public can contact the commission with any safeguarding or other concerns about charities via Complain about a charity,

83

if you had the slightest of doubt about leaving leaving the watchtower org. go to to jwsurvey.org NOW!

by nowwhat? in

and we are suposed to trust these guys with our lives?

!

OrphanCrow

Listener: I doubt that they are even making these video's under their own steam but engaging professionals. I remember seeing one video that gave credit at the end to an outside firm.

Be careful about assuming that those "outside" firms are really outside.

The Watchtower makes it appear like an outside firm is involved in some cases when, in actuality, the firm being used is JW owned and operated. I am thinking specifically of films like "First Do No Harm" and "The Name of God". Both films were produced by JW owned companies and made by crews of JWs.

83

if you had the slightest of doubt about leaving leaving the watchtower org. go to to jwsurvey.org NOW!

by nowwhat? in

and we are suposed to trust these guys with our lives?

!

OrphanCrow

problemaddict: I can't tell if they are just this dumb and inept, or if they are in fact TRYING to deceive.

It's both.

It is only the truly dumb and inept that have the need to deceive.