hsmew

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Posts by hsmew

• 
  25

  Changing the Watchtowers charitable status (UK)

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the uk charity commission lists 'the advancement of religion' as one of its 'first group charitable purposes'.. it makes the "general assumption that the advancement of religion is for the public benefit".

  the advancement of religion.

  for the advancement of religion to be charitable, a religion has to:.

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• 

  hsmew

  Simon,

  Yes. The best of the three in that it summarizes everything. See my post a bit higher up for links.

  Also, see the Guardian talkboard under issues.

  hs
• 
  2

  Let's get back in Field Service! . . . NO REALLY!

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  are you currently inactive?

  i am.. think of the fun we could have!

  surprise everyone at your kh by turning up on sunday morning for the 'ministry' - who would ask to work with you?!.

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  2. 
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  hsmew

  would you ignore yr own do not call stickers? :-)
• 
  25

  Changing the Watchtowers charitable status (UK)

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the uk charity commission lists 'the advancement of religion' as one of its 'first group charitable purposes'.. it makes the "general assumption that the advancement of religion is for the public benefit".

  the advancement of religion.

  for the advancement of religion to be charitable, a religion has to:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hsmew

  Nic,

  Thanks, but I meant why not start a thread on The Guardian talkboard. It has the nice feature that anyone going into the Issues subarea will have a good chance of seeing it.

  In act, your outfit has already been mentioned in the JW/Un thread.

  Best,

  hs
• 
  132

  100 Good Samaritans needed

  by Trilobite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  two of this board's, and h2o's before it,long time and well known participants have fallen on desperately hard times.

  if they could set up pay pal accounts and enough of us could contribute say $20 - $50 per month it would help them though their hardship.. these two people have helped many escape from the wts and i know for sure have given money and other material help to those in need, even when they could not afford it.. if you can help, send an email to: [email protected].

  you need not include any particulars of who you are etc, just an indication that you could support this and how much you could send.

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  hsmew

  Lilacs,

  Agreed! Bringing to top.

  hs
• 
  25

  Changing the Watchtowers charitable status (UK)

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the uk charity commission lists 'the advancement of religion' as one of its 'first group charitable purposes'.. it makes the "general assumption that the advancement of religion is for the public benefit".

  the advancement of religion.

  for the advancement of religion to be charitable, a religion has to:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hsmew

  Nicolau,

  There's a copy here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=13530&page=11&site=3

  Unfortunately the Gdn weekly is not fully available online. You should be able to pick a copy up easily enough in the UK. Last week's Gdn Weekly. Try WH Smith's. I subscribe but haven't received this one yet, except electronically.

  Kent has posted scans of the article at his site too.

  Also, check out the Issues board here: http://talk.guardian.co.uk/

  There is a thread on JWs and the UN.

  I;m sure another thread about how to stop JWs calling would not go amiss!

  hs
• 
  501

  UNITED NATIONS , NGO's and WTBS

  by MacHislopp in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  following the link given by kent,.

  i have several observation to make:.

  (from the link : http://www.un.org/moreinfo/ngolink/brochure.htm).

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• 

  hsmew

  Mac,

  As you requested I'm posting this to the main thread for Trilobite who's reached the limit for today.

  **************************************************

  We seem to be at something of an impasse with the press. Currently, the Guardian seems to have an exclusive. I'd suggest we use that fact to get further publicity for the UN-WTS connection. One way that editors decide if a story is of sufficient interest to warrant follow ups is by the number of letters to the editor that the stories generate. So I suggest that as many of us as possible write to the editor of Guardian Weekly with a copy (cc'd) to the Guardian's editor too.

  Also, send copies to the New York Times, Washington Post, As it Happens (Canadian Broadcast) etc. Nothing irks an editor more than to see a rival getting an exclusive. Also, if the Guardian editors see a huge number of letters it will be good for Stephen Bates too, who is doing a sterling job of getting this story out. If the big US papers publish something then the locals will likely follow.

  The only way this will work is if we all write letters over the next few days so that the editors see a huge spike in interest. If possible, include something that would suggest a follow up article would be desirable, e.g., demand a response from the WTS. The idea is not so much to get the letter published, although some might be if enough are received, as to deluge the editors and thereby demonstrate global interest.

  Be sure to use a provocative subject header in the e-mail subject line: I'm using: Jehovah's Witnesses and the UN: A study in Hypocrisy.

  Here are the addresses and instructions (you can ask to be kept anonymous but they may not publish it).

  The Guardian Weekly: Note the second address's instructions carefully; http://www.guardian.co.uk/GWeekly/Email_Editor/0,3961,210620,00.html Letters to the editor, Notes & Queries and other general editorial correspondence with the Guardian Weekly should be sent to our main e-mail address at
  [email protected]

  But if you are among the many readers around the globe who would like to submit an article for possible publication as a "Letter from..." please send it to the new e-mail address of
  [email protected]

  The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/0,6957,180522,00.html

  Want to send a letter? You can email letters to the Guardian ar the following address:
  [email protected], fax them to 0207 837 4530, or post them to:
  19 Farringdon Road,
  London EC1R 3ER

  We do not publish letters where only an email address is supplied; please include a full postal address and a reference to the relevant article. If you do not want your email address published, please say so.

  Here's a preliminary draft of my letter. Appreciate yr thoughts:

  ******************************************

  To the Editor;

  I was intrigued by Stephen Bates' excellent article in The Guardian Weekly, following up on previous articles in the Guardian, in which he exposes the hypocritical affiliation between the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York (Jehovah's Witnesses) and the United Nations. As pointed out by Mr. Bates, the Witnesses have denounced the UN, and the League of Nations before it, in apocalyptic terms for over 80 years. Judging by the activity on Witness discussion boards that these article have generated, tens of thousands of Witnesses across the world are asking "Why?" Not just why did the WTS affiliate as an NGO but why did they disaffiliate only two days after the first story in the Guardian? Almost two weeks later the Watchtower remains silent on this issue. Is it possibly because they can find no answer, except, perhaps "Guilty as charged." This silence in the face of worldwide spiritual unrest among the faithful does not bode well for the organization.

  As an large international religion the WTS could accomplish much good for its followers, and others, as a UN affiliate. It is a great pity that the Society has decided to sacrifice this opporunity in favor of a mouldy, somewhat whacky, 1930s interpretation of rather obscure imagery in the Bible book of Revelation.

  However, all may not be lost. The shock to the WTS that this latest revelation has induced also provides an opporunity for much needed reform; The Society must admit its duplicity, and, in a true spirit of Christian repentance commit to serious and open reform starting with its polices on blood, the handling of child abusers within its ranks and its severe disfellowshipping policy. Aftre that an overhaul of its inconsistent doctrinal basis should be instituted.

  Yours etc.,

  cc: The Editor, The Guardian
• 
  15

  Idea to attract PUBLICITY to UN story

  by Trilobite in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  we seem to be at something of an impasse with the press.

  currently, the guardian seems to have an exclusive.

  i'd suggest we use that fact to get further publicity for the un-wts connection.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hsmew

  blondie,

  I certainly respect your views. It takes time for these things to effect change, esp. in the organization. Very few want the WTS to vanish, we want it to change into a force for good. It contains lots of sincere and good people, even in Brooklyn. If th ebalance of power can be switched in their favor then all of the problems will be solved. I see the UN thing as yet another stick with which to beat the hardliners into submission.

  Once the leadership changes then attitudes will change. Changing the rules alone won't help.

  We all do as we see fit; I just hope that people are not discouraged from writing because they think it will do no good for the reasons you pointed out.
• 
  25

  Changing the Watchtowers charitable status (UK)

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the uk charity commission lists 'the advancement of religion' as one of its 'first group charitable purposes'.. it makes the "general assumption that the advancement of religion is for the public benefit".

  the advancement of religion.

  for the advancement of religion to be charitable, a religion has to:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hsmew

  Nicolau,

  Great work! Would it make you go over a single page if you added a reference to The Guardian Weekly story (or, better, actually attached a copy). That provides a much better overview, I think, of the story as it evolved.

  Also, these people might be interested in what you are doing: http://can-online.org.uk

  hs
• 
  99

  YK on WT UN NGO STATUS

  by You Know in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  several posters have asked what i thought of the.

  revelations about the wt being associated with the un.

  as an ngo so i thought i might make a brief comment on.

  1. 
  2. 
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  hsmew

  Lefty,

  This is what the UN NGO page says: http://www.un.org/MoreInfo/ngolink/contact.htm

  Since the founding days of the United Nations in San Francisco, NGOs have made valuable contributions to the international community by drawing attention to issues, suggesting ideas and programmes, disseminating information and mobilizing public opinion in support of the UN and its Specialized Agencies. Association with DPI constitutes a commitment to that effect. Associated NGOs are expected to devote a portion of their information programmes to promoting knowledge of the United Nations' principles and activities. In addition, they are expected to keep the DPI/NGO Section abreast of their activities by regularly providing samples of their information materials relating to the work of the UN. These are also made available for perusal at the DPI/NGO Resource Centre.

  Are JWs allowed to join Trade Unions and then become involved in "mobilizing public opinion in support of" the union?

  The rules for NGOs were established in 1968 and have remained fairly constant since then. As for your remarks about why the WTS left, perhaps you should wait until they have made their own story up.

  At least YK has the brains to see that the WTS has acted in bad faith. You, on the other hand, are simply a liar.

  hs.
• 
  15

  Idea to attract PUBLICITY to UN story

  by Trilobite in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  we seem to be at something of an impasse with the press.

  currently, the guardian seems to have an exclusive.

  i'd suggest we use that fact to get further publicity for the un-wts connection.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hsmew

  blondie,

  To me the problems in the organization cannot be separated, one from another. They all arise from the same mindset. Writing a short letter to a newspaper to add weight to a case of international interest, especially when child abuse and blood can be linked to it, as Stephen Bates did, can only help the children. This organization responds only to external pressure.

  The basic problem with the organization is that it indoctrinates attitudes through using its power to disfellowship. Until that mindset changes only isolated victories on blood and child abuse will be possible. Most JWs don't even believe that child abuse occurs so blinkered are they. The UN case is different in that it has the potential to cause a re-evaluation by JWs of their organization.

  The point being made is that, in debating whether it will be effective or not to write to newspapers, more energy is being expended than would be involved in actually writing to them.

  Don't you think that Stephen Bates' articles will help the children; he did mention blood and child abuse in no uncertain terms.

  hs