As a follow up to my post on the Upcoming Census in various parts of the world, I forgot the Scots! Silly me. The Scottish Humanist Society have their Good Without God campaign.
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation." --Voltaire
28 February 2011
Scottish Census time, Good Without God
As a follow up to my post on the Upcoming Census in various parts of the world, I forgot the Scots! Silly me. The Scottish Humanist Society have their Good Without God campaign.
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation." --Voltaire
18 February 2011
Quickies for 18 Feb 2011
Catherine Deveny has produced a wonderful little counter on how much the Churches are costing Australia.
The UK based Open Charities project started up recently, it would be great to see this in every country.
The Victorian State Government is making sure that Religious groups are able to discriminate against employing people that don't share their beliefs, as they are supported by the Australian Tax payer, then this is quite wrong.
Just to show the Victorian Government isn't alone in helping religion discriminate against non-believers , while being provided with public funds, UK Education Minister Michael Gove is planning to let faith schools discriminate against those that follow their particular beliefs.
The UK government has announced that the cost of the Papal Visit to the taxpayer was £6.9m. But the British Humanist Association membership had climbed so dramatically during the visit, the BHA have asked him to come back next year.
Google has released the Public Data Explorer a way to examine publicly available data sets.
The High Court challenge to the Australian Government Chaplains programme is underway, and getting lots of news time in Australia. The Churches are throwing lots of money into fighting it.
A brilliant idea is Open Corporates now we can all see what UK companies aren't paying tax.
Could benefit cuts lead to a spate of suicides?
While I'm very much against the Australian Chaplains program, I do recognise there are some decent kind people who sincerely want to do what is best for the children in their care, and Cecily who is a chaplain gives her view.
"Being surprised at the fact that the universe is fine tuned for life is akin to a puddle being surprised at how well it fits its hole" -- Douglas Adams
The UK based Open Charities project started up recently, it would be great to see this in every country.
The Victorian State Government is making sure that Religious groups are able to discriminate against employing people that don't share their beliefs, as they are supported by the Australian Tax payer, then this is quite wrong.
Just to show the Victorian Government isn't alone in helping religion discriminate against non-believers , while being provided with public funds, UK Education Minister Michael Gove is planning to let faith schools discriminate against those that follow their particular beliefs.
The UK government has announced that the cost of the Papal Visit to the taxpayer was £6.9m. But the British Humanist Association membership had climbed so dramatically during the visit, the BHA have asked him to come back next year.
Google has released the Public Data Explorer a way to examine publicly available data sets.
The High Court challenge to the Australian Government Chaplains programme is underway, and getting lots of news time in Australia. The Churches are throwing lots of money into fighting it.
A brilliant idea is Open Corporates now we can all see what UK companies aren't paying tax.
Could benefit cuts lead to a spate of suicides?
While I'm very much against the Australian Chaplains program, I do recognise there are some decent kind people who sincerely want to do what is best for the children in their care, and Cecily who is a chaplain gives her view.
"Being surprised at the fact that the universe is fine tuned for life is akin to a puddle being surprised at how well it fits its hole" -- Douglas Adams
15 February 2011
So you want to know about Australian Charities
So you have given money to your favorite charity, and you would like to know where does the money go.
Doesn't it seem that each year it seems you also paying more tax, and getting less in return
In New Zealand they have a Charity Commission
Their is a Charity Commission in England and Wales
The Scots have one as well, as does Northern Ireland
In Canada the Tax Dept looks after Charities
In the USA you can check with the IRS the status of the Charity you with to Donate to.
In the republic of Ireland they don't have a register of Charities, but the Tax Dept has a list for tax purposes.
for more Information on giving in Canada and Canadian Charities
So many counties and so many rules...it's quite mind blowing, and while there are places to find specific Charity organizations such as http://www.givingineurope.org
To bad if your in Australia, there is no Charity Commission of any kind. There are Charity Registers such as http://www.givewell.com.au/ , but no way to see the source of any money, or how is it used, or spent.
So why should you care?
Does it matter that Churches don't pay tax on the land they own and have churches residing?
Does it matter that Churches don't pay taxes on their commercial interests?
Does it matter that the Catholic Church is worth ?????
the Uniting Church is worth, and
In 2002, the Australian Federal Government established an inquiry into the definition of a charity. That inquiry proposed that the government should legislate a definition of a charity, based on the principles developed through case law.
In 2003 the then Government proposed a Charities Bill . The Bill incorporated a number of provisions, such as limitations on charities being involved in political campaigning, which oddly enough many charities didn't like.
The government then appointed a Board of the Taxation inquiry to consult with charities on the Bill. As a result of widespread criticism from charities (funny that), the Government decided to abandon the Bill. Afterwards the Extension of Charitable Purpose Act 2004 was passed, the just legalized the charity status of Child Care, self help groups and other religious orders, not covered elsewhere.
Recently the Govt had the Henry Tax Review, this was to be a comprehensive examination of the Australian tax system on a Federal and State level
The Government has decided against the advise to establish a Charity Commission as was recommended the the Henry Tax Review, From the ProbonoAustralia website
Four reports, and they all recommend some sort of State Office to regulate charities, and Australia is one of the few countries that doesn't have one. Make you wonder doesn't it ?
David Locke from the UK Charity Commission gave his thoughts on the matter in June 2010, he was also commenting on the Report on the Not for Profit Sector by the Productivity Commission
So remember, the issue here is where the money that is given to Charities goes. A lot of this is from the Government, well that's really Australian tax payers money, and Australians have no way of knowing where is spent, and how much money and assets these charities have.
A well known example is the company Sanitarium its owned by the Seventh Day Adventist church, and Sanitarium has an income of $A300 Million, it's profits to Charity, so therefore pays no tax.
The Australian Tax Office does try to keep a lid on theses abuses :-
Some information from a Hillsong Church insider:-
In 1993 Professor Ole Gjems-Onstad reported that besides Australia, only Israel and Hungary have such lax reporting laws on Charities
Now the big question is why? What is it in Australia that makes the Charities so special ?
Most Charities have a religious content......Hmmm
Could it be the longest serving PM John Howard is a Christian, as was his Treasurer. What about Kevin Rudd, well we all know he will pray for anyone to anyone. How far into Australian society does the Purple Glove of the Church reach? What does it do with all that money?
The Business Review Weekly ran a story on 24 March 2005, I can't find it on line , but the main areas of interest are found here at the ADOGS Site again the amount of money involved in staggering.
It was estimated by Treasure that the Black Economy (untaxed and cash in hand) was worth 2% of GDP, and that brought in the GST or consumption tax to Australia, the Purple Economy is certainly worth more.
Some more financial figures I found are from John L Perkins and Frank Gomez who made a submission to the Australian Senate as part of the recent Tax Review.
But what you really need to know is that it's about 31 Billion Dollars. This is the money that is untaxed and unseen. It's money that the average Australian is partly having to make up for in Council rates and Income Tax.
Notes: W 2005 information from BRW article "God's Business" June 2006 + 20%
X 10% of estimated Catholic Church revenue
Y 2005 information from BRW article "God's Business" June 2006 + 50%
Z Assumes Catholic assets same ratio of total (40.8%) as of revenue.
Table 2 – Estimates of Cost to Taxpayers
Notes: A 30% of the estimated revenue
B Assumes 10% realised CG from asset holdings, property + shares
C 2005/2006 budget forward estimates
D One third of $90 million announced over 3 years
E 2007 Budget Papers (90% of total non-govt of $6.256 billion)
F SMH article as above estimate of NSW funding x 3
G Media releases
H 2007 Budget Papers
I Govt media + budget
Further estimates of income lost to state and local governments are given in Table 3. The information in these Tables suggests that religious organisations receive ample support via direct grants for many of their activities. It is questionable whether local and state taxpayers should pay higher taxes and rates as a result of extending exemptions to organisations that are already subsidised through direct government expenditure.
Table 3 - Income Lost to State and Local Governments
Notes:
J Based on NSW treasury figures X 3 for whole country
K Pro-rated on above
L Pro-rated on above
M Pro-rated on above against Association of Local Councils source
Doesn't it seem that each year it seems you also paying more tax, and getting less in return
In New Zealand they have a Charity Commission
Their is a Charity Commission in England and Wales
The Scots have one as well, as does Northern Ireland
In Canada the Tax Dept looks after Charities
In the USA you can check with the IRS the status of the Charity you with to Donate to.
In the republic of Ireland they don't have a register of Charities, but the Tax Dept has a list for tax purposes.
for more Information on giving in Canada and Canadian Charities
So many counties and so many rules...it's quite mind blowing, and while there are places to find specific Charity organizations such as http://www.givingineurope.org
To bad if your in Australia, there is no Charity Commission of any kind. There are Charity Registers such as http://www.givewell.com.au/ , but no way to see the source of any money, or how is it used, or spent.
So why should you care?
Does it matter that Churches don't pay tax on the land they own and have churches residing?
Does it matter that Churches don't pay taxes on their commercial interests?
Does it matter that the Catholic Church is worth ?????
the Uniting Church is worth, and
In 2002, the Australian Federal Government established an inquiry into the definition of a charity. That inquiry proposed that the government should legislate a definition of a charity, based on the principles developed through case law.
In 2003 the then Government proposed a Charities Bill . The Bill incorporated a number of provisions, such as limitations on charities being involved in political campaigning, which oddly enough many charities didn't like.
The government then appointed a Board of the Taxation inquiry to consult with charities on the Bill. As a result of widespread criticism from charities (funny that), the Government decided to abandon the Bill. Afterwards the Extension of Charitable Purpose Act 2004 was passed, the just legalized the charity status of Child Care, self help groups and other religious orders, not covered elsewhere.
Recently the Govt had the Henry Tax Review, this was to be a comprehensive examination of the Australian tax system on a Federal and State level
The Government has decided against the advise to establish a Charity Commission as was recommended the the Henry Tax Review, From the ProbonoAustralia website
The Government also rejected a Henry report recommendation that was also recommended by the Productivity Commission report - the establishment of a National Charities Commission.
The Henry report said in its report that consistent with the recommendations of previous inquiries, (2) a national charities commission should be established to monitor, regulate and provide advice to all NFP organisations (including private ancillary funds).
It said the charities commission should be tasked with streamlining the NFP tax concessions (including the application process for gift detectability), and modernising and codifying the definition of a charity.
The Henry Report said in its 1500 page report that Not for Profit organisations make a highly valued contribution to community wellbeing and receive government and community support for their activities.
It pointed out that much of the support provided to the NFP sector comes from tax concessions, including income tax exemptions, GST credits and exemptions, capped exemptions from (or rebates of) fringe benefits tax, and tax deductible gifts.
However it said this system of tax concessions is complex, and does not fully reflect current community values about the merit and social worth of the activities it subsidises.
It said the income tax and GST concessions generally do not appear to violate the principle of competitive neutrality where NFP organisations operate in commercial markets. However, the fringe benefit tax concessions provide recipient organisations with a competitive advantage in labour markets.
It said where NFP clubs operate large trading activities in the fields of gaming, catering, entertainment and hospitality, the rationale for exempting receipts from these activities from income tax on the basis of a direct connection with members is weakened.( Italics mine )
It recommended that these issues could be addressed through: the establishment of a national charities commission to monitor, regulate and provide advice to all NFP organisations; reconfiguring the FBT concessions to alleviate competitive neutrality concerns while retaining government support for the NFP sector; and better targeting the application of the mutuality principle.
The Rudd Government rejected this as well as any future study or community discussion on a tax on bequests.
Four reports, and they all recommend some sort of State Office to regulate charities, and Australia is one of the few countries that doesn't have one. Make you wonder doesn't it ?
David Locke from the UK Charity Commission gave his thoughts on the matter in June 2010, he was also commenting on the Report on the Not for Profit Sector by the Productivity Commission
So remember, the issue here is where the money that is given to Charities goes. A lot of this is from the Government, well that's really Australian tax payers money, and Australians have no way of knowing where is spent, and how much money and assets these charities have.
A well known example is the company Sanitarium its owned by the Seventh Day Adventist church, and Sanitarium has an income of $A300 Million, it's profits to Charity, so therefore pays no tax.
The Australian Tax Office does try to keep a lid on theses abuses :-
The decision of the High Court in F C of T v Word Investments Limited (High Court, 3 December 2008) gives a green light to charities that want to become more commercially adventurous. The ATO argued that Word should not be endorsed as an income-tax-exempt charity.So basically, they are a religious charity running a Tax free business.
Word was a company founded by persons associated with Wycliffe Bible Translators (International), a missionary organisation. Wycliffe is particularly active in developing countries, and among sections of the population who have no written language. The missionaries learn the local language, teach people to read and write that language, translate the Bible into that language, then teach the people how to read it.
The High Court appeal centred on the fact that Word did not carry out these activities itself. Rather, it carried on a funeral business, giving its profits to Wycliffe and other organisations to enable them to perform those missionary activities. The High Court felt that there were four issues, all of which were decided against the ATO.
First, the ATO submitted that Word's objectives were not confined to religious or charitable purposes because of its funeral business. It said that the 'basic function' of Word was to conduct businesses, and that the making of profits and distributions of them to charitable institutions like Wycliffe was merely incidental to the conducting of businesses. The High Court, however, said that it was Word's purpose and the carrying out of that purpose that mattered; not how it carried out that purpose.
Second, the High Court said that an institution can be charitable where it does not engage in charitable activities beyond making profits that are directed to charitable institutions that do engage in charitable activities.
Third, the ATO submitted that if Word were to be a charitable institution, it had to ensure that the distributions it made were utilised by the donees (so far as there relevant) for the advancement of religion. However, the High Court said there was no evidence that Word knew, or ought to have known, that the entities to which it transferred its income would misapply it, or that they did misapply it (there was no suggestion that they had).
Fourth, the ATO tried to argue that Word was not entitled to be endorsed as an income-tax-exempt charity because its activities were not effected in Australia (that broadly speaking being one of the requirements for endorsement). This argument was also rejected. The ATO has revenue collection responsibilities. However, this decision suggests that some entity other than the ATO should be responsible for determining whether an entity is a charity or not.
Some information from a Hillsong Church insider:-
Tanya Levin’s (2007) “People in Glass Houses”, Chapter 19 (pp. 198-207)All tax free...good work if you can get it.
(giving examples of how some religious groups such as Hillsong/Assemblies of God churches take advantage of our money, via the government)
“Everybody knows moonlighting’s where the money is.Lou Robson reported in Brisbane’s Courier-Mail (2008):
When a pastor preaches at his own church, he earns his weekly salary. When he preaches at someone else’s, he gets a traditional ‘love offering’ as well. The love offering stems from the days when evangelists traveled in faith, not knowing where they might rest their heads that night or how they might feed the new baby … It is still a common practice.
The love offering is pocketed. No one sees it.”
“Prosperous pastor Benny Hinn flew into Brisbane a multimillionaire. He left, 28 hours and three shows later, an estimated $800,000 richer.
The Queensland capital was a goldmine for the flamboyant televangelist who left with cash, cheques and the bank account and credit card details of more than 50,000 Australians fans.
Some attendees, who travelled from as far away as Hong Kong and Perth, handed over gold earrings and wedding rings instead of cash.
An Australian Taxation Office spokeswoman said Pastor Hinn’s Australian haul – part of an estimated $110 million donated to the World Healing Centre Church each year – was seen as a “love offering”.
“The tax office is unable to comment on individual tax matters,” the spokeswoman said.
“However gifts received by churches aren’t usually tax-exempt unless they’re given in a personal capacity. It’s a very complicated issue.”
An Australian Customs Service spokeswoman said Pastor Hinn’s visa allowed him to leave the country two hours after his 3pm show on February 16.
He travelled aboard his $36 million Gulfstream jet to Auckland, part of a 27-stop world tour expected to generate more than $10 million.
The 105,000 Australians who attended Pastor Hinn’s shows in 1998 were believed to have donated more than $1 million.
Brisbane attendees at his February 15 and 16 shows were urged to give as much as $10,000 each. Conservative estimates place the Australian donations, minus merchandise sales, at $800,000.
Pastor Hinn says he is accountable to God and authorities which oversee not-for-profit organisations.
But on November 6, the US Senate Committee on Finance announced he would be investigated. Senator Chuck Grassley said he believed Hinn, and other wealthy pastors, had experienced personal gain through tax-exempt work.
It was believed Pastor Hinn had profited from financial donations.” 1
In 1993 Professor Ole Gjems-Onstad reported that besides Australia, only Israel and Hungary have such lax reporting laws on Charities
Now the big question is why? What is it in Australia that makes the Charities so special ?
Most Charities have a religious content......Hmmm
Could it be the longest serving PM John Howard is a Christian, as was his Treasurer. What about Kevin Rudd, well we all know he will pray for anyone to anyone. How far into Australian society does the Purple Glove of the Church reach? What does it do with all that money?
Just who is pulling the strings to keep the Churches money and business dealings withheld from scrutiny?
The Business Review Weekly ran a story on 24 March 2005, I can't find it on line , but the main areas of interest are found here at the ADOGS Site again the amount of money involved in staggering.
It was estimated by Treasure that the Black Economy (untaxed and cash in hand) was worth 2% of GDP, and that brought in the GST or consumption tax to Australia, the Purple Economy is certainly worth more.
Some more financial figures I found are from John L Perkins and Frank Gomez who made a submission to the Australian Senate as part of the recent Tax Review.
But what you really need to know is that it's about 31 Billion Dollars. This is the money that is untaxed and unseen. It's money that the average Australian is partly having to make up for in Council rates and Income Tax.
$ Million | Notes | |
| Revenue of the 10 biggest churches | 47,647 | W |
| Estimated collections | 2,760 | X |
| Catholic Church Assets | 150,000 | Y |
| Estimated other church assets | 217,647 | Z |
X 10% of estimated Catholic Church revenue
Y 2005 information from BRW article "God's Business" June 2006 + 50%
Z Assumes Catholic assets same ratio of total (40.8%) as of revenue.
$ Million | Notes | |
| Income tax lost (at corporate rate ) | 15,122 | A |
| Capital gains tax lost (corporate rate) | 6,529 | B |
| Grants for family counselling | 64 | C |
| Chaplains in schools programme | 30 | D |
| Grants to religious schools (from commonwealth) | 5,630 | E |
| Grants to religious schools (from states) | 1,800 | F |
| Grants for abortion counselling | 20 | G |
| Grant for interfaith convention Melbourne | 2 | H |
| Grant for Catholic World Youth Day (state & federal) | 140 | I |
B Assumes 10% realised CG from asset holdings, property + shares
C 2005/2006 budget forward estimates
D One third of $90 million announced over 3 years
E 2007 Budget Papers (90% of total non-govt of $6.256 billion)
F SMH article as above estimate of NSW funding x 3
G Media releases
H 2007 Budget Papers
I Govt media + budget
Further estimates of income lost to state and local governments are given in Table 3. The information in these Tables suggests that religious organisations receive ample support via direct grants for many of their activities. It is questionable whether local and state taxpayers should pay higher taxes and rates as a result of extending exemptions to organisations that are already subsidised through direct government expenditure.
$ Million | Notes | |
| Payroll tax exemptions | 473 | J |
| Stamp duty exemptions | 418 | K |
| Land tax exemptions | 139 | L |
| Rate income lost to councils | $ 610 | M |
K Pro-rated on above
L Pro-rated on above
M Pro-rated on above against Association of Local Councils source
If love of money is the root of all evil, then by their own reasoning and actions, dosen't that make churches the most evil of all.?
1 Thanks to http://www.jesusallaboutlife.com/ for this
2
2001 Charities Definitions Inquiry This inquiry also recommended a Charity Commission
To learn more about the role of Churches Charities and Tax in Australia The Purple Economy
is the best reference.
Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separated. -Ulysses S. Grant
Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separated. -Ulysses S. Grant
14 February 2011
Valentines Day 2011
For something a bit different I did whats called a LOTD (Look of the Day) for my friend Nunna Nightlys blog Shapley Onions.
Here are some Hearts for you all
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? ~Author Unknown
Census Matters so make it no religion
During 2011, Britain, Ireland, Canada and Australia are all going to have a census, The UK will have Census on 11th March, Ireland is 10th of April, Canada 10th May and Australia is 9th of August.
Last time I had a difficult choice...very difficult, I had to decided if I should put Jedi or not. Since I decided that I can't use the Force or and I don't posses a Lightsaber, I put Pastafarian.
While many people think a census is just the government intruding and trying to find out all it can about it's citizens...well yes. that's true to a part. The Government needs this information so it can provide services, roads, libraries (ok, forget the libraries in the UK) and for understanding what people do for work,health, age ranges, and how they travel. Among the questions asked is about your religion.
It's very simple just not to worry about this question, and think "Well, we have Christmas at home, or we were baptised" and then put Christian in the box without a second thought. If so, you have just given a small boost to Archbishops, lobbyist leaders and everyone who jumps up and down waving a book, and says god is on their side. Those religious leaders then get to say "I represent the views of X% of the population" and this helps them persuade political leaders to maintain the undeserved privileges religions enjoy, and also to do what these religious want, not to do what is right for everyone.
Suggestions from the pulpit can sway votes, and what is the most important thing to politicians? Votes. It would be nice to think that doing the best for their country would be the most important thing...sadly no. Universally, reelection is more important than the public good
Australian results for those who are claiming no religion have been climbing steadily:-
1996: 16.6 per cent
2001: 15.5 per cent
2006: 18.7 per cent
In the 2006 census the top three responses for religious affiliation were Catholic (25.8%), Anglican (18.7%), and No Religion (18.7%). So the amount of people who are learning to think for themselves is increasing, we just need to give them a hint.
This year the the Australian Atheist Foundation have launched their Census No Religion campaign.
The idea is to encourage those people to think, what do you really believe in now? Really..Sunday School was a long time ago.
In the UK the Humanist Society have launched the Census Campaign for the March 11 Census.
Again it's important to put NO RELIGION, not Jedi, not Atheist, and don't leave it blank. In the last Census over 390,000 people put Jedi, unfortunately this didn't change anything, or help anyone.
Atheist Ireland have also launched "So be honest to Godless" in the Irish Census on Sunday 10 April.
From their site:-
The Canadian Centre for Inquiry have called for those who are not religious to say so, on the next Census.
This year the message is simple, put NO RELIGION.
One is often told that it is a very wrong thing to attack religion, because religion makes men virtuous. So I am told; I have not noticed it. -- Bertrand Russell,
Last time I had a difficult choice...very difficult, I had to decided if I should put Jedi or not. Since I decided that I can't use the Force or and I don't posses a Lightsaber, I put Pastafarian.
While many people think a census is just the government intruding and trying to find out all it can about it's citizens...well yes. that's true to a part. The Government needs this information so it can provide services, roads, libraries (ok, forget the libraries in the UK) and for understanding what people do for work,health, age ranges, and how they travel. Among the questions asked is about your religion.
It's very simple just not to worry about this question, and think "Well, we have Christmas at home, or we were baptised" and then put Christian in the box without a second thought. If so, you have just given a small boost to Archbishops, lobbyist leaders and everyone who jumps up and down waving a book, and says god is on their side. Those religious leaders then get to say "I represent the views of X% of the population" and this helps them persuade political leaders to maintain the undeserved privileges religions enjoy, and also to do what these religious want, not to do what is right for everyone.
Suggestions from the pulpit can sway votes, and what is the most important thing to politicians? Votes. It would be nice to think that doing the best for their country would be the most important thing...sadly no. Universally, reelection is more important than the public good
Australian results for those who are claiming no religion have been climbing steadily:-
1996: 16.6 per cent
2001: 15.5 per cent
2006: 18.7 per cent
In the 2006 census the top three responses for religious affiliation were Catholic (25.8%), Anglican (18.7%), and No Religion (18.7%). So the amount of people who are learning to think for themselves is increasing, we just need to give them a hint.
This year the the Australian Atheist Foundation have launched their Census No Religion campaign.
In the UK the Humanist Society have launched the Census Campaign for the March 11 Census.
Atheist Ireland have also launched "So be honest to Godless" in the Irish Census on Sunday 10 April.
In the last Irish Census, over a quarter of a million people either ticked the ‘No Religion’ box (186,000), or didn’t answer the question (70,000), or wrote in an answer that isn’t a religion (over 2,000). Overall, that’s about one person in every fifteen. On its own, the ‘No Religion’ figure is the second-largest group after Roman Catholics.
And we believe the real figure is much higher than that. The ‘No Religion’ figure has risen from 1,000 (in 1961), to 7,000 (in 1971), to 39,000 (in 1981), to 66,000 (in 1991), to 138,000 (in 2002) and 186,000 (in 2006). With even normal change, that figure should be higher now. And with the dramatic changes in Irish society since the last Census, the true figure may be much higher.
We hope that the Census results for 2011 will accurately reflect this. You can help to make this happen.I did find it rather surprising that No Religion came second in Ireland, I'm quite sure with all the fresh scandals, such as the Magdalene Laundries, and the amount of child rapists in the church, and how the church spent so much time and effort covering it up, it will grow higher than the 186,00 from 2006.
The Canadian Centre for Inquiry have called for those who are not religious to say so, on the next Census.
This year the message is simple, put NO RELIGION.
One is often told that it is a very wrong thing to attack religion, because religion makes men virtuous. So I am told; I have not noticed it. -- Bertrand Russell,
11 February 2011
Salvation Army , Chaplains, child abuse, and bad timing.
There is currently a very important court case being fought in the Australian High Court. Ron Williams is talking the Australian Government to court of it's funding of Chaplains in Australian schools. The website gives the reasons and methods, and it's certainly a cause worth fighting for.
Today the Queensland Govt decided to intervene on the Federal Govt side, not really surprising, as they are getting free money for schools. Although the timing of the announcement cold have been better. I do like this comment :-
He is referring to the Salvation army, who in the last few years have seem to have become increasingly evangelical. They have always had a good name in Australia, as they do a lot of good work, until the recent child abuse claimaints came forward.
This press release was also released the same day as the one above:-
So Geoff Wilson has just said that the wonderful chaplains are just as good as another Christian group who are guilty of the abuse of children in their care. The Salvation Army finally said sorry last year, I'm sure there are more stories out there, about what really happened in these awful places.
It is just part of an extraordinary story of how migrant children where abused in Church run institutions in Australia
The Salvation Army is also known for it's anti - gay stance.
"Perhaps we cannot prevent this world from being a world in which children are tortured. But we can reduce the number of tortured children." -- Albert Camus
Today the Queensland Govt decided to intervene on the Federal Govt side, not really surprising, as they are getting free money for schools. Although the timing of the announcement cold have been better. I do like this comment :-
Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson said the constitutional challenge threatened the good work of school chaplains.
“Chaplains have been working positively with students in our State schools for two decades,” Mr Wilson said.
“School chaplains are the Salvos of the school yard. Just like the Salvation Army representatives who work in the wider community, school chaplains provide a vital and valuable service within our schools.
“Chaplains are a friend to those in need, and touch the lives of thousands of students every year.
He is referring to the Salvation army, who in the last few years have seem to have become increasingly evangelical. They have always had a good name in Australia, as they do a lot of good work, until the recent child abuse claimaints came forward.
This press release was also released the same day as the one above:-
An advocacy group for former child wards is urging the nation's churches and charities to sell assets to fund compensation for children who were abused in their care.The call comes on a day where the Salvation Army will formally apologise to those people who were abused in its care.
More than 500,000 Australians were raised in institutions over the past century.
The Salvation Army was responsible for around 30,000.
So Geoff Wilson has just said that the wonderful chaplains are just as good as another Christian group who are guilty of the abuse of children in their care. The Salvation Army finally said sorry last year, I'm sure there are more stories out there, about what really happened in these awful places.
It is just part of an extraordinary story of how migrant children where abused in Church run institutions in Australia
The Salvation Army is also known for it's anti - gay stance.
"Perhaps we cannot prevent this world from being a world in which children are tortured. But we can reduce the number of tortured children." -- Albert Camus
07 February 2011
So your looking for a woman speaker?
I can't say for certain but it does look like public talks and lectures are becoming more popular in the recent years. There has been TED running in the USA, and in the UK we have the Royal Society of Arts, and Intelligence Squared.
All three have spread to Australia, with a Fellows Network of the RSA, TED and IQ² both having very is popular events in Sydney.
Public talks and Lectures have been popular in London for many years as Gresham College and the Royal Institution are located here.
I suspect it may be the publicity via the Internet, and in most cases these lectures are recorded and placed on YouTube, or Vimeo, so everyone can see them.
Now if your looking for a woman speaker in Australia, there is help. Leslie Canold, Catherone Deveny and Jane Caro have launched No Chicks No Excuses.
So There!
It's not how strongly you feel about your topic, it's how strongly they feel about your topic after you speak.
--Tim Salladay
All three have spread to Australia, with a Fellows Network of the RSA, TED and IQ² both having very is popular events in Sydney.
Public talks and Lectures have been popular in London for many years as Gresham College and the Royal Institution are located here.
I suspect it may be the publicity via the Internet, and in most cases these lectures are recorded and placed on YouTube, or Vimeo, so everyone can see them.
Now if your looking for a woman speaker in Australia, there is help. Leslie Canold, Catherone Deveny and Jane Caro have launched No Chicks No Excuses.
No Chicks No Excuses is the brainchild of Leslie Cannold, Jane Caro and Catherine Deveny, three women in public life who got tired of event organisers saying they couldn’t find good women speakers.
The bright, capable and witty women listed on No Chicks No Excuses are those in our network. They are women we know, have seen in action or who have otherwise come to our attention and who we think are great value.
If you’re looking for a speaker, please understand that we offer the names and details of women on this site as a starting point for further investigation. It’s up to you to discover more and find the right fit for your event.
Catherine says that living in an all male household made her want to print a t-shirt that says, “Where have you looked?” When event organisers tell us they can’t find women speakers we had the same question, “Where have you looked?”
The search is over, the answer is here. No Chicks No Excuses – expert women for every event.
So There!
It's not how strongly you feel about your topic, it's how strongly they feel about your topic after you speak.
--Tim Salladay
05 February 2011
He was probably behind the fridge
Eeeekkk! Get me an Exterminator, or a Time Lord!!
I don't get to play very much with Photoshop, or clean behind the refrigerator very much either.
Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate! -Every Dalek ever.Being Disabled in the Worlds 6th biggest Economy
Being in a wheelchair, or having to walk in crutches, having a severe debilitating illness or Epilepsy is really got to suck big time. I suspect that most people in first world countries are so used to modern medicine, and the benefits of childhood vaccinations that seeing people who aren't in good health is probably quite rare for many.
But of course the disabled are with us, those people who though no fault of their own picked up a design flaw in the womb, had an accident or disease, and are unable to work, or in some cases look after themselves.
Most modern societies understand this, and try to make an attempt to make life bearable for the disabled, being via a Government benefit, work done by a charity, or some sort of religious organization.
Babies and children are now living when they used to die, but sometimes at a price of their health, and those who would normally have died through neglect or lack of medicine are now living longer, much longer. Some people can lead fairly normal healthy working lives, but others will need Government support. Personally as a tax payer, I'm quite happy for this, while I'm not happy to keep those F^*%&;*g Bankers in Porsches, when they messed it up for everyone.
We have come a long way from Victorian times when Charles Dickens wrote "Nicholas Nickleby" that told of the events of Dotheboys Hall. For those unfamiliar with the Children's orphanages of the times, some not all, were actually set up to kill children, not bring them up or put them up for adoption. Newspapers of the times would advertise child care, for just a few pence, and the child would disappear. It was not until "Nicholas Nickleby" was written that the British govt took steps to end this practise.
Speaking of which, now the UK has a newish Tory Government, and the first thing they seem to need to do is change things, all sorts of things, anything that will look like they are doing something, anything. As long as I can remember, the NHS has been undergoing some sort of "reform", year after year.
Welfare is also a popular political football, over the last few years people on Disability benefit have been the ball, and the Ministers have doing the bend it like beckham kicking.
But is benefit fraud really such a problem? Some suggest not. Currently the plan is to get as many people as possible off benefit's and into work. There are only two major problems
1)The recession
2) The people who say "Yes, this person can work", are not responsible for also finding these (certainly non-existent) jobs.
It's not as if MPs are known for rorting the system is it?
A few things to think about:-
Data from Family Resources Survey and the National Equalities Panel 2010 found that:
· 75% of disabled women and 70% of disabled men are already at the bottom end of Britain’s income distribution scale living in poverty.
· A tenth of disabled woman have incomes below £31 per week and a tenth of disabled men have incomes below £59 per week including earned income and benefits.
I have a friend with epilepsy, suddenly she will fall to the ground, have some minor convulsions, and gets up after a few minutes, oddly enough this can be off putting to some people...really.
So what sets this off you ask?
Lets see..stripey shirts, stripy shadows, car indicators, fluorescent lighting, bastards with flash cameras who take photos after being told not to, flashing mouse cursors...flickering things..you get the idea. The govt agency that was trying to get her employment tried for 4 years to put her in work, before they actually decided that someone who falls over at the turning on of a light switch is probably a bit in the too hard basket. It only took 7 case managers to decide this.
My friend really would have liked to have been able to get a proper job, you know, have money to travel the world and see things, go on a drive through Paris, Red Square in Moscow, Night Clubs in Rome, cruise the Nile. But no, she lives in the darkness of her flat, someone might take her shopping , sometimes going out to the local shops after the sun goes down.
She won't get better..there is no cure.
Being disabled...it really sucks..
So the government wants to cut what little they already get. Sickening.
But we are getting replacements for Trident, you know, those submarines that we will never actually use, just in case Russia does something, like turn off the gas, or China sends no more flat screen TVs.
BTW the UK Treasury have done a deal with Liechtenstein and Switzerland about the people hiding their money in the tax exile
But I have to pass you over to someone who really knows what she is talking about, her name is Sue Walsh, she is on twitter here http://twitter.com/#!/suey2y and she blogs here diary of a benefit scrounger , and she has written for the Guardian and she rocks!
Also to read up on who is and who isn't paying their fair share of tax, read Taxresearch, I certainly am.
If I have a bad day, it's all over. It's always because of my disability. "Oh, that poor girl, she's upset because she has a disability" and I'll say, "No, I'm upset because my boyfriend left me." "Oh, because he couldn't deal with the disability?" "No, because I slept with his best friend".."Oh, you slept with his best friend because you were feeling bad because you have a disability.”
Ellen Stohl (first playboy playmate with a disability)
But of course the disabled are with us, those people who though no fault of their own picked up a design flaw in the womb, had an accident or disease, and are unable to work, or in some cases look after themselves.
Most modern societies understand this, and try to make an attempt to make life bearable for the disabled, being via a Government benefit, work done by a charity, or some sort of religious organization.
Babies and children are now living when they used to die, but sometimes at a price of their health, and those who would normally have died through neglect or lack of medicine are now living longer, much longer. Some people can lead fairly normal healthy working lives, but others will need Government support. Personally as a tax payer, I'm quite happy for this, while I'm not happy to keep those F^*%&;*g Bankers in Porsches, when they messed it up for everyone.
We have come a long way from Victorian times when Charles Dickens wrote "Nicholas Nickleby" that told of the events of Dotheboys Hall. For those unfamiliar with the Children's orphanages of the times, some not all, were actually set up to kill children, not bring them up or put them up for adoption. Newspapers of the times would advertise child care, for just a few pence, and the child would disappear. It was not until "Nicholas Nickleby" was written that the British govt took steps to end this practise.
Speaking of which, now the UK has a newish Tory Government, and the first thing they seem to need to do is change things, all sorts of things, anything that will look like they are doing something, anything. As long as I can remember, the NHS has been undergoing some sort of "reform", year after year.
Welfare is also a popular political football, over the last few years people on Disability benefit have been the ball, and the Ministers have doing the bend it like beckham kicking.
But is benefit fraud really such a problem? Some suggest not. Currently the plan is to get as many people as possible off benefit's and into work. There are only two major problems
1)The recession
2) The people who say "Yes, this person can work", are not responsible for also finding these (certainly non-existent) jobs.
It's not as if MPs are known for rorting the system is it?
A few things to think about:-
Data from Family Resources Survey and the National Equalities Panel 2010 found that:
· 75% of disabled women and 70% of disabled men are already at the bottom end of Britain’s income distribution scale living in poverty.
· A tenth of disabled woman have incomes below £31 per week and a tenth of disabled men have incomes below £59 per week including earned income and benefits.
I have a friend with epilepsy, suddenly she will fall to the ground, have some minor convulsions, and gets up after a few minutes, oddly enough this can be off putting to some people...really.
So what sets this off you ask?
Lets see..stripey shirts, stripy shadows, car indicators, fluorescent lighting, bastards with flash cameras who take photos after being told not to, flashing mouse cursors...flickering things..you get the idea. The govt agency that was trying to get her employment tried for 4 years to put her in work, before they actually decided that someone who falls over at the turning on of a light switch is probably a bit in the too hard basket. It only took 7 case managers to decide this.
My friend really would have liked to have been able to get a proper job, you know, have money to travel the world and see things, go on a drive through Paris, Red Square in Moscow, Night Clubs in Rome, cruise the Nile. But no, she lives in the darkness of her flat, someone might take her shopping , sometimes going out to the local shops after the sun goes down.
She won't get better..there is no cure.
Being disabled...it really sucks..
So the government wants to cut what little they already get. Sickening.
But we are getting replacements for Trident, you know, those submarines that we will never actually use, just in case Russia does something, like turn off the gas, or China sends no more flat screen TVs.
BTW the UK Treasury have done a deal with Liechtenstein and Switzerland about the people hiding their money in the tax exile
The first is that the Lichtenstein disclosure arrangement will yield up to £3 billion to HM Revenue and Customs, rather than the £1 billion first forecast. This is, in retrospect, unsurprising . The Lichtenstein deal is extraordinary. It offers a flat rate penalty of 10% for the disclosure of significant tax evasion. The normal penalty for evasion can be up to 100%, and simple errors made by honest traders can often carry penalties of 30% , even when voluntarily disclosed to HMRC.
The second claim is that the forthcoming deal with Switzerland on withholding tax will raise up to £6 billion for HM Revenue and Customs over the next four years. But in this case the question is why is the capital that underpins these tax evaded funds being ignored? If the withholding tax is to be at 35% over £4 billion of income must be involved each year to generate £1.5 million for HMRC. That implies that HMRC think there are more than £100 billion of illicitly held funds in Switzerland and yet they are doing nothing to recover the tax that should’ve been paid on those funds in the first place.From Tax Research
But I have to pass you over to someone who really knows what she is talking about, her name is Sue Walsh, she is on twitter here http://twitter.com/#!/suey2y and she blogs here diary of a benefit scrounger , and she has written for the Guardian and she rocks!
Also to read up on who is and who isn't paying their fair share of tax, read Taxresearch, I certainly am.
If I have a bad day, it's all over. It's always because of my disability. "Oh, that poor girl, she's upset because she has a disability" and I'll say, "No, I'm upset because my boyfriend left me." "Oh, because he couldn't deal with the disability?" "No, because I slept with his best friend".."Oh, you slept with his best friend because you were feeling bad because you have a disability.”
Ellen Stohl (first playboy playmate with a disability)
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