Action Australia

Brisbane - Australia's 'counter-terror hub'

29/01 Michael Wray for the Courier Mail | BRISBANE will be Australia's counter terrorism policing hub with squads of elite federal police to be based in the city for emergencies at home and in the Pacific region... The AFP confirmed yesterday that a crack Operational Response Group unit had been set up in Brisbane but refused to say how many officers it had or what they did

Late-term abortion a life and death debate

28/01/2008 Dr. David van Gend | THE claim that late-term abortion is done only in cases of lethal abnormality or to save the mother's life is demonstrably false.

The truth is that most late abortions, which are 20 weeks of pregnancy, are done to entirely healthy babies of entirely healthy mothers, and by a method so cruel I am reluctant to describe it.

In many cases these are babies older than those in our hospital nurseries, who might have been born alive and adopted to loving parents, but were instead "terminated".

Keelty calls for media terror blackout

... In a speech to the Sydney Institute at the NSW parliament, the commissioner launched a scathing attack on media coverage of terrorism cases, saying it undermined the judicial system. He warned that there had been a discernible shift towards media campaigns designed to drum up support for people under investigation.

"I am not saying that correct processes and procedures should be cast aside, nor should public institutions be immune from public accountability in the discharge of their public service," he said. "But I am saying that a public discussion about them should be delayed, in deference to judicial processes - not subjugated, not quashed, not silenced, just delayed until the full gamut of judicial process has been completely exhausted.

Vic Parliament to debate Euthanasia

29/01 Australian Christian Lobby Newsletter | Already saddled with an ambitious program of socially contentious legislation, media reports today indicate the Victorian Parliament will have a conscience vote on euthanasia within the next six months.

In the first half of 2008, it is likely Victoria's politicians will be debating the decriminalisation of abortion, the availability of IVF for single women and lesbians, relationship registers for couples in interdependent relationships (a measure ACL supports because it helps to preserve marriage between a man and a woman) and, now, doctor assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

In a famous conscience vote in 1996 led by former Howard Government Minister Kevin Andrews, the Australian Parliament blocked the Northern Territory’s world first euthanasia legislation. However, the Federal Parlaiment would not have this authority over a State such as Victoria.

Citizenship test a 'stunning' success

29/01 Daily Telegraph | FEARS the citizenship test is unfair to migrants have been proved unfounded by a review showing a stunning 93 per cent pass rate.

Indians and Filipinos are doing far better on the exam than Brits and New Zealanders. But a high number of newcomers from war-torn states, most of them refugees, are struggling to get through the quiz, according to an analysis released last night.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the Government wanted to ensure the test was not a barrier to migrants in need of support.
But he said: "The test can play a valuable role in helping new citizens understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship."
It was introduced by the former government to "assist" people who want to become Australians understand "Australian values, traditions, history and national symbols".

SUBMISSION TO THE VICTORIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION ON THE DECRIMINALISATION OF ABORTION

23/01 Endeavour Forum Newsletter | The scientific advances in ultrasound technology now show clearly that the developing fetus  in the womb is a small human being capable of sucking its thumb and moving its limbs, not a clump of cells or blob of tissue or  "menstrual clot" as abortion proponents dishonestly claimed - until ultrasound blew apart their lies. The word "fetus" means 'young one' and primarily relates to the baby's habitat (i.e. in utero) and not its status as if it were some other kind of tissue different to a baby.

An Anniversary to Mourn: Roe v. Wade

22/01 USA - CBN News | Nearly 50 million unborn children have been killed through the abortion process since the notorious Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973, according to National Right to Life...That averages out to more than 3,000 abortions every day since that ominous date - worse than suffering a Sept. 11 death toll daily for 35 years. But these deaths are not the work of ruthless terrorists; they come at the hands of our own medical practitioners.

The pro-abortion mantra is that the public supports Roe," said Senior Legal Counsel Michael Johnson of the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal group that works to defend religious freedoms. "That presumption is on shaky ground." ... A number of pro-family organizations contend that most Americans are unaware of what the ruling allows.  They argue that the more people know about Roe v. Wade, the less likely they are to support it.

..."We think when people understand that Roe and Doe allowed abortion for any reason throughout a pregnancy, they'll be appalled by that." ... Clinics such as Planned Parenthood have made a living from terminating the lives of unborn children ... Planned Parenthood claims that its mission is about "protecting women's health" by keeping abortion "safe, legal and rare," yet ADF contends that its promotion of practices devaluing and destroying human lives speaks for itself. ... ADF reports that Planned Parenthood's assault on America's youth and values doen't end on the abortion table, "the organization hawks poorly performing condoms, provided an undercover reporter posing as a 15-year-old with suggestions on how to cover up a case of statutory rape, and fought regulations that would enforce basic safety standards for its clinics."

Results from the Roe IQ Test show that the more Americans understand the true nature of Roe v. Wade, the more likely they are to oppose the death-sentencing decision.

Pro-life leader: Movement making strong gains, victory in sight

22/01 OneNewsNow.Com | Today marks the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the infamous 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Pro-lifers are commemorating and protesting the anniversary in Washington, DC, by taking part in the annual "March for Life" on the National Mall. Mark Crutcher, founder and president of the group Life Dynamics, says although pro-lifers cannot yet claim victory, there is reason for optimism.

Crutcher says every piece of technology that has come along since Roe v. Wade has favored the pro-life position, the best example of that being the sonogram. And in his opinion, most people overlook the influence that the Internet has had on people's thinking about abortion.

"I don't think it's any coincidence at all that the American people's position on abortion began to change dramatically toward the pro-life side at the same moment that the Internet became a reality," Crutcher suggests. When the Internet came on line, he says, "the godless, leftist, pro-abortion American secular media lost its monopoly on the flow of information" to the American people. "And when that happened, the American people began to a second look at abortion ... and we started winning."

How Green Was their Folly

22/01 Endeavour Forum Newsletter | Many of the seats won by the Australian Labor Party in the recent Federal elections were won on Green preferences, so Green ideology warrants a closer look. In November last year the London Daily Mail reported on two women environmentalists who take their carbon footprint very seriously indeed. One of the women, Toni Vernelli, aborted a pregnancy and had herself sterilized by age 27 to "save the planet".

Enforcing Secularism

22/01 Bill Muehlenberg | Some of us warned that a Labor government would make many changes which would impact on the Christian faith. Consider one such recent change. Under the former Howard government, schools were given funding to have religious chaplains, to help bring some spiritual dimension to the life of the students.

New Education Minister Julia Gillard wants to change all that, and allow secular counselors. She wants the scheme to be secular in nature:

Hypocrisy has a Whale of a Time

18/01 Australian Christian Lobby Newsletter | The sad ironies between whaling and abortion are generally lost on the wider population. But one academic who likes to weigh in to both debates is the world-famous Australian ethicist at Princeton, Peter Singer.

In an article in The Australian this week entitled Hypocrisy on the high seas, he said it was wrong to kill whales because it caused pain and suffering to “social, intelligent animals capable of enjoying their lives”

World’s first cloned embryo misses the stem cell boat

18/01 Australian Christian Lobby Newsletter | Scientists in California announced today they had cloned the world’s first human embryo.

This unethical achievement will almost certainly not help sufferers of Parkinson’s and other diseases, as a breakthrough in November, previously reported in e-news, has rendered cloning human embryos redundant.

Indeed, this caused some of the world’s most prominent advocates for cloning, such as Dolly the sheep cloner professor Ian Wilmut, to walk away from human embryo cloning.

Chaplaincy program goes secular in Rudd overhaul

14/01 Ben Packham for the Herald Sun | JOHN Howard's controversial school chaplains program will be expanded to include any suitably qualified counsellor under an overhaul by the Rudd Government. Education Minister Julia Gillard's office has confirmed the $90 million program will be changed into a secular scheme when current contracts expire. "Any funds allocated, we will deliver," her spokeswoman said.

...Labor's plans for the program did not feature in its election campaign. But former education spokesman Stephen Smith had criticised the funding criteria, saying individual schools should be able to select any "appropriate individual" to provide pastoral care.

The current program is funded for another two years. The Government will draw up plans to expand the scheme in co-operation with education groups. Opposition education spokesman Tony Smith said the chaplains scheme was so popular it was over-subscribed by schools. He said its expansion was an indictment on state Labor governments, whose responsibility it was to provide school counsellors.

Rules of attraction take strange twist

14/01 Richard Woods for The Australian | IMAGINE what they thought, imagine the turmoil they endured. They are the twins who, it emerged on Friday, were separated at birth and given up for adoption only to meet by chance years later - and marry.

The man and woman, unaware they were siblings, had grown up in different families. Yet when fate brought them together again, they experienced an uncanny bond and a sexual attraction. As Lord Alton, who revealed the case, said: "They were never told they were twins. "They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction."

Row over lewd clothes for kids

11/01 Jen Melocco, Daily Telegraph | A MAJOR retailer has come under fire for selling a line of T-shirts pitched at school students featuring slogans such as "Miss Bitch", "Miss Floozy" and "Mr Drunk".

The Australian Childhood Foundation has called on retail chain Jay Jays to withdraw the Little Losers line of clothing, claiming they send the wrong message to impressionable tweens and teens.

"These are negative messages and adolescence is an impressionable time," Australian Childhood Foundation CEO Joe Tucci said. "If I was the company I'd withdraw them." Other shirts in the range feature cartoon characters labelled with names such as "Mr Pimp", "Mr Asshole" and "Mr Well Hung", as well as tiny shorts bearing the words "Total Bitch".

Migrants flunk citizenship test

02/01 Nick Butterly for The Age | AUSTRALIA'S controversial citizenship test will be reviewed after the release of figures showing large numbers of would-be citizens are flunking the exam. Out of 10,636 people taking citizenship tests carried out since their introduction in October, 2311, or more than 20%, failed.

Under laws introduced by the former Howard government, anyone who wants to become an Australian citizen must pass a 20-question quiz on Australian history, values and way of life, and demonstrate an adequate knowledge of English. Only residents who have lived here for four years can apply for citizenship. Those who fail to meet the 60% pass mark can sit the test as often as they want until they get it right.

Last year while in opposition, Labor leader Kevin Rudd gave his backing to the Coalition scheme, as well as plans to make new arrivals to the country sign a so-called values statement stating they agree to abide by the Australian way of life. But new Immigration Minister Chris Evans confirmed yesterday the Government would review the citizenship test in light of the poor test results and could make wholesale changes.

Hicks must explain actions, apologise

02/01 Kim Wheatley for the Daily Telegraph | THE twin brother of an Adelaide man killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks wants David Hicks to explain his reasons for being a "terrorist in training". Stuart Knox, whose brother Andrew was on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Centre's north tower when American Airlines Flight 11 struck, joined a chorus of calls for Hicks to apologise.

In the months prior to September 11, Hicks trained in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, where he claims to have met the "lovely" Osama bin Laden. A US Defence Department document states Hicks travelled to Pakistan around September 9 to visit a friend and while there watched television footage of the World Trade Centre attack. According to the file, Hicks said "it was a good thing" - 2749 people died in the attack including 11 Australians. "That disgusted me," Mr Knox said... "He made a choice to train with the Taliban. I see him as having done something against Australia." Under the terms of the order, Hicks must report to his nearest police station, which is believed to be Port Adelaide, three times a week.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

UK: Lords to vote on embryos, fatherhood and abortion

12/03 The Christian Institute | The House of Lords will vote on the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill on 15 and 21 January. Key votes are expected on the creation of animal-human hybrid embryos and so-called 'saviour siblings'. Other votes will decide whether to remove the requirement to consider a child's 'need for a father' in IVF referrals, and whether to repeal the law which allows abortion up to birth for reason of 'serious handicap'.

Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said: "The Bill subordinates the rights of the human embryo, a human being at its earliest and most vulnerable stage, to the rights of the adults it depends on for its survival. At its worst, it substitutes what is right for what is practical.

"Scientists hope to use animal-human hybrid embryos as a source of stem cells for medical research. Yet after more than a decade of work, no successful treatments have been developed from embryonic stem cells. Meanwhile, the use of adult stem cells has produced significant benefits for patients, with over 70 treatments being developed. In addition, recent advances have opened the way for the creation of cells which mimic embryonic stem cells without destroying human embryos. The measures in the Bill appear to be behind the times.

... "The Bill also seeks to change the status and value of fatherhood. Under the current law doctors must consider a child's 'need for a father' when providing IVF treatment. But the Bill removes this requirement. This sidelines fathers and dismisses the weight of evidence which clearly shows the crucial role a father plays in a child's development. We support the retention of the requirement.

HUGE PRO-LIFE DEMONSTRATIONS IN SPAIN AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

20/01 Australian Prayer Network Newsletter | On the last Sunday of 2007, more than one-and-a-half million Spaniards demonstrated in favour of the traditional family in the centre of Madrid. Spain was once one of Europe's most conservative countries, however, since the election of Prime Minister Jose Zapatero shortly after the Madrid train bombings, the government has earned a reputation of having some of the most liberal, anti-family laws in Europe.  

In two months, another general election will be held to determine if Zapatero will continue in office. "These atheist, irreligious governments want to make us believe that our life has no meaning and that isn't true," said Kiko Arguello, organizer of the event.

PHILADELPHIA BOY SCOUTS TO LOSE HISTORIC BUILDING FOR NOT ACCEPTING HOMOSEXUALITY

20/01 Australian Prayer Network Newsletter | The Philadelphia council of the Boy Scouts of America will lose the lease on its historic premises for its refusal to bow to pressure from the homosexual lobby to accept homosexual members and leaders. The city has told the Scouts they will be evicted if they cannot come up with US $200,000 a year "market value" rent for the land on which their building sits. The famous Beaux Arts style building was built and paid for by the Scouts, and turned over to the city with the understanding that the Scouts would be allowed to remain in it rent-free "in perpetuity."

The Philadelphia Daily News says the attack on the Scouts, and their moral stand, comes at a time in Philadelphia when the city suffers a murder a day, "but City Hall thinks Public Enemy No. 1 is the Boys Scouts of America."

Jailed teddy bear teacher off to China

02/01 Nick Butterly for The Age | The British schoolteacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her students to name a teddy bear Mohamed is looking for a new adventure - in China. The 54-year-old mother of two was freed from a Sudanese jail last month after British officials helped her secure an early release from a 15-day sentence for insulting Islam.

Gibbons says she now hopes to teach children in China and will take a new teddy bear, called Barnaby, for her new pupils. "I've been to China on holiday before and loved it," Gibbons told Hello! magazine. "Besides which, I know I'm the most notorious teacher in the world at the moment but I'm hoping that perhaps no one has heard of me there.

Malaysia: Catholics allowed to use the word Allah

1/01 Herald Sun | MALAYSIA has renewed the publishing permit of a Catholic newspaper, reversing an earlier ban forbidding non-Muslims from using the word Allah after the move stoked fears of a rise in hardline Islam. The Government earlier this month ruled that the term Allah, long used by Christians in Malaysia to refer to God, could no longer be used by non-Muslims.

... The ban meant that the publisher of the Kuala Lumpur-based Herald - the Catholic Weekly could lose its publishing permit if it failed to drop the word Allah in its publication. The row had threatened to further strain race and religious relations in Malaysia, where many non-Muslims believe their rights are being trampled by the Muslim majority.

But newspapers today reported that the country's internal security ministry had renewed the permit of the Catholic paper, with no restrictions, quoting its editor, Father Lawrence Andrew.

EGYPT: Rape victims 'must have abortions'

1/01 World News Australia | Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning has ruled that any woman who becomes pregnant as a result of rape must undergo an abortion.

The Islamic Research Council of Cairo-based Al-Azhar has declared immediate terminations are essential to maintain "social stability".

... The independent Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights says an average of two women are raped every hour in Egypt. Experts say many factors contribute to high levels of rape and sexual harassment, including rising unemployment, the huge cost of marriage and the fact that sex outside marriage is forbidden.

UK: Transsexual laws threaten free speech

12/12/07 The Christian Institute | A vicar could be sued for explaining the Bible's teaching on transsexualism if he expresses his beliefs outside a church, under new laws being proposed by the Government.

The planned regulations (published last week) will outlaw discrimination on grounds of transsexualism in the provision of goods and services. The proposals include a subjective harassment clause which could be triggered by a transsexual "feeling" offended.

Although the plans contain some religious liberty exemptions, they only apply to non commercial activities at a place "occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion." The moment a vicar steps outside his church, he could be vulnerable.

For example, if a church minister visits a male-to-female transsexual in his home to explain that he cannot conduct his marriage to another biological man, the transsexual could sue the minister for harassment. All the transsexual person has to do is establish that he "felt" offended by what the minister had to say.

Or, if a transsexual went into a Christian bookshop and asked for a book on transsexualism and was offered a book saying that transsexualism was morally wrong, the transsexual could sue the bookshop. There would be no religious liberty exemption.

Training tomorrow's leaders

There is a great need in this nation to assist those students and recent graduates who demonstrate a high potential to become influential leaders for Christ across strategic areas of our nation including politics, law, media, science, education, arts and philosophy.
The Compass program, an eight-day course in Christian worldview, aims to address this need.

The inaugural program kicks off this Sunday with 40 students at the University of Queensland. For more information and to register interest for 2009, please go to www.compass.org.au .

Lyle Shelton
National Chief of Staff , Australian Christian Lobby

Endeavour Forum Inc. Public Meeting

Celebrating our 29th Birthday

7.30 pm, Friday, 1st February 2008 at St. Michael's Hall, 2 Victory Blvde, Ashburton, Vic. 3147.

Guest speaker: The Hon. Senator Guy Barnett (Lib, Tasmania)

Topic: "Where to from here?"

The meeting will be chaired by Mr. David Perrin, National President, Australian Family Association.

The Opening Prayer will be said by Mrs. Kirsten Jack, spokeswoman for the Coalition Against the Decriminalisation of Abortion.

The vote of thanks will be given by Mrs. Jenny Stokes, Research Officer, Salt Shakers. The meeting will be followed by supper.

All welcome, $10 donation appreciated. RSVP essential:

Mrs. Prue Oldham, (03) 9583 6835 or Mrs. Margaret Butts, (03) 9589 5039.

SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL PRAYER AND INTERCESSORS SUMMIT AND NATIONAL BRIEFING

Commencing 2.00PM Friday 15th February 2008 with 3 sessions concluding at 9.30PM then

Continuing from 9.00AM Saturday 16th February 2008 concluding at 4.00PM

Caloundra Powerboat Club
The Esplanade
GOLDEN BEACH  QUEENSLAND 

SPEAKERS: 
Brian Pickering  -  National Coordinator Australian Prayer Network
Pastor Ben Gray - Apostolic Oversight APN and Senior Pastor CityHarvest International Brisbane

Phyllis Lines    -  Australian Prayer Network Coordinator for Regional South Australia

* Come and receive revelatory teaching on the subjects of prayer and intercession. 

* Receive an up to date understanding of God's prophetic agenda for Australia.

* Hear reports on the spiritual state of the nation and updates on issues affecting our future.

Summit is open to all however members of the Australian Prayer Network are especially invited so that our National Leadership Team can meet as many of our members as possible during their visit to the Sunshine Coast.

Morning and afternoon tea provided.  Meals on Friday and Saturday can be purchased at the venue at club prices, or bring your own.

Registration requested for catering purposes however no registration fee is asked.  Instead a love offering towards the ongoing ministry of the Australian Prayer Network will be taken at the Summit. 

Please indicate your intention to attend to Val Matthes by phone on 07 5492.1461 or by email to kykilah@bigpond.com by Monday 11th February 2008. 

A special morning tea session for Intercessors will be held commencing at 10.00AM on the Friday morning also at the Power Boat Club. Cost will be $6.00 per person for morning tea.

If wishing to attend please advise when registering.  
For further information contact APN Regional Coordinators Kenn and Yvonne Kilah on 07 5492.5387 or 0412 793 701

Summit Australia 13-19 January 2008

The International Conference in Victoria, Australia, will challenge you to examine your thinking, and renew your mind - to learn what the Bible says about important areas of ministry like Politics, Economics, Law, Psychology, Sociology, etc.It will help you establish a solid foundation of biblical truth, equip you to champion the Christian faith, and empower you with ability to take positive and effective action in our world today

Come and hear International speakers David Noebel, author of  ‘Understanding the Times’ and ‘The Battle for Truth", Michael Bauman, Dr. Darrell Furgason and Greg Koukl, amongst Australian speakers Rev. Dr. David Mitchell, Bill Muehlenberg, Peter & Jenny Stokes, Rev. Dr. Stuart Robinson, Rev. Dr. Mark Durie, Dr. Augusto Zimmermann and more!

This is the fourth year SUMMIT have been in Australia to run these schools with Australian co-speakers.
SUMMIT has been running Biblical Worldview Schools in the US since 1962.

If you have a Koorong Bookshop near you, you can pick up a few brochures from them. (Vic, NSW, SA, Tasmania)

If you want more than  5, then contact Saltshakers us and we will post them out to you. Please let us know how many you require.

The conference's opening night on Sunday 13th of January is being held at Crossway Baptist Church, and from Monday 14th to Saturday 19th at Deakin University, Burwood Campus.

Website: http://www.summit.org/conference/international/australia/

Email address: summitaustralia@optusnet.com.au

SUMMIT is being hosted in Melbourne by Salt Shakers and CultureWatch.

Source: Salt E-News [saltshakers1@optusnet.com.au]