Action Australia

A Very Significant Victory

Dear friends

I bring you greetings from Perth and some terrific news. In what may be a world first, a cloning bill has just been defeated in WA. These clone and kill bills are bad news as they seek to destroy human embryos to obtain stem cells. But the WA government voted last night to defeat this bill, with 5 Labor MPs crossing the floor in a conscience vote. As Festival of Light put it, this is a major victory:

Defeat of cloning bill hailed as world first

"Festival of Light Australia has hailed the defeat in the Western Australian Legislative Council of a bill to allow human cloning as a ‘world first’ and a development of international significance. This vote on cloning has come after the dramatic scientific breakthroughs beginning in November 2007 when Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka turned ordinary human skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). This new science has developed so rapidly that it has now made cloning scientifically redundant because iPS cells are biologically indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells.”

Well done to all the faithful pro-life warriors in WA who fought so hard and long on this bill. And remember, despite many setbacks and discouragements, we can and do have some resounding victories as well. So keep on fighting the good fight!

Bill Muehlenberg
Culture Watch

WA Human Embryo Cloning Laws Unethical and Unnecessary

01/05 Australian Christian Lobby | WA politicians seemed unaware that some of the world’s leading advocates for cloning human embryos had abandoned the practice in favour of a better and ethical means of procuring stem cells.

Australian Christian Lobby WA State Director Michelle Pearse today urged Upper House MPs to consider the full facts before deciding how they would vote on a controversial cloning bill before the House.

On Relationship Recognition

ACL submission to the Senate Inquiry into the sexualisation of children

01/05 Australian Christian Lobby | ACL has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment. ACL's submission details the pervasive nature of sexualised content and images in advertising, broadcasting and magazines, as well as sexualised clothing styles and slogans.  ACL cites evidence showing that this sex-saturated culture has a range of negative impacts on children's and adolescents' sexual development, relationships, achievements in other fields, and on their physical health.

ACL's submission calls for major changes to be made to advertising and broadcasting codes, and for a unified complaints system covering all areas of media to replace the slow, messy and confusing system that exists at present. ACL also wants to see children's interests being given priority in an independent regulatory system to oversee all media exposure and advertising that impacts on children and teenagers.

You can read ACL's submission here. Please note that, in order to demonstrate the prevalence of smutty outdoor advertising, this submission contains photographs of sexually explicit billboards that some readers may not wish to see.
Thank you to all those ACL supporters who made submissions to this Inquiry.

The submissions received by the Inquiry are listed here. A high number seem to be from parents and grandparents sharing their concerns about sexualising of society.

Northern Ireland : Public opinion ignored as NI age of consent lowered to 16

02/05 Christian Institute | The Government at Westminster has today ignored the will of the people of Northern Ireland and its elected representatives by pushing ahead with plans to lower the age of consent ... The move comes in spite of a weight of evidence showing the plan is strongly opposed by the public and politicians of different parties across Northern Ireland.

Just yesterday a majority of MLAs signed a No Day Named motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly saying they were against the proposal. A public opinion poll published earlier this month showed that three quarters of the public (73 per cent) wanted the age of consent to remain at 17.

UK: Creator of Abortion Law wants Abortion on Request

02/05 Christian Institute | An architect of Britain's abortion law, Lord Steel, wants to scrap the need for two doctors to give permission for early abortions.

Under the existing law, introduced by Lord Steel when he was an MP in the 60s, two doctors must agree to a termination. Abortions are allowed for 'social reasons' up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

In 1966, when Parliament was debating the Bill, David Steel said: "[It is] not the intention of the promoters of the Bill to leave a wide open door for abortion on request." But speaking yesterday Lord Steel contradicted himself by saying he wants to create a regime of "abortion on request". He wants to remove the 'two doctors' rule for abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Last October Lord Steel admitted that abortion is being used as a form of contraception in Britain. He said he never anticipated "anything like" the current number of terminations when leading the campaign to legalise abortion. About 200,000 abortions are carried out each year in Britain and almost 7 million since the Abortion Act was passed in 1967.

..In March the Royal College of Psychiatrists changed its policy on abortion. They said that having an abortion can damage a woman's mental health and women should be told the risks before proceeding.

UK: More twelve-year-olds are having abortions

02/05 Christian Institute | The number of twelve-year-old girls becoming pregnant and having abortions is increasing, and "society just has to come to terms with that", a leading abortion provider says. In 2004 there were 15 girls aged twelve who had abortions, up from 10 in 2003, according to figures obtained from the Department of Health by The Sunday Times using freedom of information laws.

Among 13-year-olds, 142 girls had abortions in 2004, increasing from 138 in the previous year. Ann Furedi, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, a nationwide abortion provider, told The Sunday Times: "This is a tiny number of girls. Children grow up very quickly in our society.

"They are maturing faster physically, psychologically and socially, and society just has to come to terms with that." The British Pregnancy Advisory Service is a registered charity heavily funded with public money. It latest published accounts show an annual income of over £23 million, but only £2,000 of that came from donations. Almost all its income comes from fees. It facilitates abortions for almost 50,000 women each year, nearly 80% under contracts with the NHS.

Dr Rhona Knight, a family doctor, disagrees that girls are simply choosing to have sex at earlier ages. She said: "The message given out is that the boys will use a condom or the girls can go on the pill, but they end up pregnant which is extremely sad.

"We need to empower these girls to realise that they do not need to have sex at that age.".

Northern Ireland : Majority of MLAs oppose lower age of consent in NI

02/05 Christian Institute | Most MLAs (55) have signed up to a 'no day named' motion at Stormont opposing plans to lower the age of consent from 17 to 16 in Northern Ireland. It is the most supported NDN motion currently at Stormont.

Earlier this month newspapers published a poll showing that three quarters (73 per cent) of the public oppose the plans. In February a report recommending keeping the law unchanged was voted through unopposed by MLAs.

Despite this opposition from the public and politicians the plan is being pushed forward by the Northern Ireland Office which has responsibility for criminal law.

Cllr Pat Ramsey MLA (SDLP, Foyle constituency) said: "The sheer number of MLAs signing up to this No Day motion confirms that if the Assembly was to be deciding on the age of consent, it would not be liberalising the present law. It would be voting to keep current legal protections in place for our teenagers. Why then is Westminster forcing this legislation upon us in view of the strong opposition of local people and their elected representatives? This is an affront to democracy."

Free Public Lecture

‘Jerusalem: The World’s Epicenter’
Jerusalem & Israel constantly dominate the headlines. Find out why and what it means for your future.

Presented by Kameel Majdali, PhD (Melb)
Director of Teach All Nations Inc.

WHEN: Monday, 5 May 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Christian Life Assembly, 374-378 Blackburn Road, Glen Waverley VIC

Melway Reference: 70 J3; Tel. 03 9802 5040

Coincides with:

§        The launch of the new book Melbourne to Jerusalem: A Pilgrim’s Progress in the 21st Century; copies will be signed.
§        Israel/Jordan Information Night: Learn more about the upcoming tour to the Middle East 10-25 November 2008
§        Presented by Teach All Nations Inc.  Israel@tan.org.au

Next Free Public Lecture: ‘What Does the Future Hold for Iraq & the Middle East?’ Monday 1 September 2008, same time & place.

NOTE: Salt Shakers has known, and worked with, Dr Kameel Majdali for a long time.

For those of you who live in Melbourne, you might remember the Trends conferences, conducted by Kameel when he was principal of Harvest Bible College.


Since leaving Harvest, Kameel has established a teaching ministry called 'Teach All Nations'.

And that is what he now does - travelling around the world teaching and training Christians in worldview issues.

His website is http://www.tan.org.au/

Kameel also hosts tours to the Middle East. He has a long association with the Middle East, having been born in Lebanon and then re growing up in the USA.

NATIONAL DAY OF THANKSGIVING - SATURDAY 10th MAY 2008

THOSE BEING HONOURED AND THANKED IN 2008

This year the National Day of Thanksgiving coincides with Mothers Day weekend, Saturday 10th May 2008. 

We wish therefore to honour all Mothers and thank those people throughout our respective communities who nurture, train, teach, mentor or care for babies, children and youth.

This would include but not be limited to: Full and part time workers and volunteers in Babies and Children's homes, Foster Carers, staff in Child Care and Pre-School facilities , staff and volunteers working in Youth Shelters, School Teachers and Chaplains, Youth Workers, Sporting team coaches and administrators.

Churches that have not previously been involved with the National Day of Thanksgiving will find our Church Kit helpful in understanding how they can become involved and the resources that are available to assist them in celebrating the day in their community. To order a kit simply write to info@thanksgiving.org.au advising us of the postal address to which you want it sent.  The Kit which includes an information booklet and DVD is free, and is posted to you at our expense.

This year we are providing Schools with their own kit as a way of encouraging them to understand how they can use the day in promoting thanksgiving to their students, but also, by undertaking acts of kindness in the community, showcase their values to the community at large.  Whether you are a Principal, Teacher, Chaplain, or a Parent wanting to encourage your child's school to become involved, we encourage you to email us at info@thanksgiving.org.au and ask for a School Kit to be electronically transmitted to you free of charge.  

PRAYER FOR ISRAEL CONFERENCE

under the theme -“Supporting the Messianic Community in Israel” will be held on Saturday 24th May 2008 at Creek Road Presbyterian Church, Cnr Creek and Fursden Roads, Carina, Qld

SPEAKERS:

Eliyahu Ben-Haim – was born in New York and raised in a traditional Jewish home. He became a believer in Jesus at age 30. In 1984 he moved to Israel with his wife and children, later becoming the Coordinator/Director of Intercessors for Israel, a National Prayer movement. Eliyahu is a key person in Israel’s growing Messianic community and has recently produced several DVDs in the “Praying through the Land” series.

Ken Legg – Founder/Director of Set Free Ministries, a Christian Training & Resource Ministry supplying materials to over 1,000 churches and groups. He is Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Christian Church, on the Gold Coast which he and his wife pioneered in January 2002. Ken has spoken at many Israel Awareness Groups throughout Australia and has authored 13 books.

Fraser Harding – together with his wife Jayne is joint Administrator of Prayer for Israel – Australia. Fraser has been involved with Christian pro-Israel activities for more than 20 years. He is a frequent speaker and writer on matters pertaining to Israel, from both a Biblical and a Current Events perspective.

DAY PROGRAM commences at 9.30am which involves teaching sessions by the above speakers as well as praise and worship.

EVENING PROGRAM commences at 7.00pm and includes Music & Song presentation with Susanna Galer; Dance led by the Jubilee Ministry Team; Message by Eliyahu Ben- Haim.

Conference brochures are available from our office. Please request same by email or alternatively call Fraser or Jayne Harding on (07) 5514 212.

Special discount available if you register by 24 April 2008 

PRAYER, NATIONS AND GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE 2088

Sunday 22nd - Tuesday 24th June 2008

Great Hall
Parliament House
CANBERRA

Speaker: Rev Mosy Madugba

Rev Madugba (M. Div. Bradenton) is the International Director of Spiritual Life Outreach, a multi-national indigenous missionary agency and evangelistic ministry headquartered in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and focused on Nigeria and the nations of Africa. He is also the International Coordinator of Ministers Prayer Network (MPN), a prayer and leadership network of Christian leaders across the nations of the world. MPN hosts the annual International Ministers & Christian Leaders Prayer and Leadership Conference (Global Prayerquake) that is attended by 10,000-15,000 Christian leaders. He was formerly Travelling Secretary of the Scripture Union for approximately ten years.

Sunday 22nd June   7.30PM  Worship Service
Monday 23rd June  7.30AM  Breakfast followed by 2 Day Sessions and 1 Evening Session
Tuesday 24th June 11.00AM  Leadership Forum 

Cost $195.00 per person which includes all sessions, breakfast, lunch on Day 2 and tea & coffee
Sunday evening worship service is open to all. Offering will be taken

Registrations:  For registration forms contact Parliamentary Prayer Network on ppn@ppn.org.au 

For further information:  www.ppn.org.au or ring 02 6287.3558

Organised by The Parliamentary Prayer Network 

Supported by The Australian Prayer Network
Source: Parliamentary Prayer Network

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